Cops knock wage offer
Australian Federal Police (AFP) have expressed a vote of no confidence in the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC).
Federal police have deemed the APSC 11.2 per cent wage deal unacceptable.
The AFP Association (AFPA) says the APSC's decision on non-Australian Public Service (APS) Government Bargaining Parameters shows a lack of respect for their members and undermines the concept of “good faith bargaining”.
Despite statutory organisations outside the Australian Service Act being excluded from the broader APS-wide bargaining process, discontent prevails.
AFPA President Alex Caruana has reportedly condemned the decision as a “kick in the teeth”, saying the APSC and federal government has failed to comprehend the AFP's role in local and international law enforcement.
Caruana criticised the APSC for shifting bargaining goalposts midway, undermining the government's policy of good faith bargaining and hindering negotiations to improve AFP members' conditions and safety.
Caruana says that the proposed 11.2 per cent pay increase over three years would leave AFP employees among the lowest-paid police officers in the country.
He questioned the attractiveness of joining the AFP when other jurisdictions offer better conditions and wages, sometimes up to $30,000 more per annum depending on rank.