Ph 3259 1900 (24 hours) - Queensland Police Union

Central Region Roundup
BILL FELDMAN
NO PAIN, NO GAIN
Our fellow Unionists in the emergency services, health, and the public service are beginning to feel the pain
that we in the police service felt under the former government. We had to fight and justify with determined
reasoning why we needed and deserved a pay rise in excess of what the then Labor government was prepared
to give. For the first time in enterprise bargaining history, the government had offered a pay rise below that of
the CPI, which was in effect a pay cut. We knew we were in for a long and protracted fight for a better outcome.
We wish all these fellow Union organisations and members well in their fight for better wages and conditions.
We have our own fight coming up in
just over 12 months. Our last fight
took almost two years to finalise, and
some aspects of the Determination
are still being implemented by the
QPS.
As the OIC of a two-man station, I
am still waiting with bated breath
to see if I am really going to be paid
as an OIC and receive the applicable
allowance for the duties that I
perform.
Having toured to other police Union
jurisdictions during the last two
years, we as an Executive have
witnessed firsthand what the GFC
has caused in many countries, and it
has been a very sobering experience.
Our fellow police officers in these
“As the OIC of a
two-man station,
I am still waiting with
bated breath to see
if I am really going to
be paid as an OIC.”
countries have been caught in conflict
with their respective governments.
Some have been negotiating a zero
percent pay rise with no further
increases in staff numbers for
three years, and others are facing
a decrease in pay rate of between
5-10% for no job losses.
With examples such as these, we
were left feeling very fortunate
indeed for our own negotiated
outcome through arbitration. Most
jurisdictions looked on our outcome
with extreme envy.
In some American jurisdictions,
governments are so broke that they
Our real fight is only just beginning.
Stay interested and involved in
your Union; it’s your future you’re
protecting.
FAREWELL BARRY
Some of us don’t have to worry
any more, and I say a very sincere
farewell to an old former cadet and
“In some American jurisdictions, governments
are so broke that they are unable to pay the
pensions legislated and protected by law to
retired and retiring police.”
are unable to pay the pensions
legislated and protected by law to
retired and retiring police.
Governments funding their
responsibility to retired public
servants (superannuation) is
producing a phenomenon now called
‘pension envy’, where legislators
are looking at law reform to reduce
the pension previously promised
these retired veteran police officers.
Disgraceful.
Don’t think an attack on our
superannuation is out of the question;
they already took away our defined
benefit and have left us at the mercy
of the global economy. So don’t think
they won’t try and erode our benefits
already won.
work colleague, Detective Sergeant
Barry Maff, OIC of the Charters
Towers CIB. Many an errant, young,
black-hat-wearing cowboy from the
outer Burdekin will be glad to see this
old stager retire.
Those massive mitts he has for
hands will no longer be grabbing
the shoulders of delinquent criminal
offenders. We have lost another true
character from the Service and we
will be poorer for the loss.
Barry, we wish you all the best in the
future, and I am truly sorry I could
not be there for your send-off. I am
sure my other old mates, Mick Barnes
and Peter Thomas, passed on my
best wishes and told a few whoppers
(true stories, just exaggerated) on my
Queensland Police Union Journal August 2012 17