QLD:Police union to discuss pay with Premier

AAP General News (Australia)
08-08-2010
QLD:Police union to discuss pay with Premier

BRISBANE, Aug 8 AAP - The Queensland Police Union will meet with Premier Anna Bligh
on Friday in an attempt to resolve the current pay row.

Police have been offered a 2.5 per cent pay rise a year for the next three years, but
their union said it was below inflation forecasts and below the 4.5 per cent pay rise
given to other public servants.

While the government says it is working to budgetary constraints, in July they said
they were prepared to discuss police working more weekend shifts in exchange for a bigger
pay increase.

Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers said the union was meeting with Ms Bligh
at 3pm (AEST) on Friday.

"We continue to negotiate in good faith, it hasn't been easy, but we will continue on," he said.

"I'm hoping we can achieve a fair deal, which is what other public sector employers
have got in the community.

"We are still nutting away and it's very delicate, so I can't divulge anything."

Police Minister Neil Roberts on Sunday said the two parties were in the middle of "robust"

discussions.

"Since the premier announced the opportunity for the police union and police to go
above 2.5 per cent there have been a number of meetings and negotiations taking place,"

he said.

"A range of matters are obviously on the table and hopefully we'll reach an outcome."

Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson said while he was hopeful there would be a satisfactory
resolution as soon as possible, he was not directly involved in discussions between the
government and the union.

AAP djb/jm

KEYWORD: POLICE QLD

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