The Victorian government is being urged to intervene in a pay dispute between the state's police force and its union over nine-day fortnights for officers.
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The police association and Victoria Police management are negotiating a new pay deal, which includes a proposed rostering system to allow frontline officers to work nine-hour shifts and nine-day fortnights.
The dispute went before an independent mediator, who recommended a shift to the new system.
However, Chief Commissioner Shane Patton on Monday issued a note to staff saying the force was "not in a position" to accept the recommendation.
"While we've worked tirelessly to find a middle ground that addresses (the union's) request for nine-hour shifts without compromising our ability to keep both the community and you safe, the recommendations presented to us - and I'm disappointed to say it - falls short," Mr Patton said.
The fate of the policy will now fall to an independent umpire from Industrial Relations Victoria as the parties enter arbitration.
Both sides have been asked to make submissions to the industrial watchdog by Wednesday.
Police union secretary Wayne Gatt said the new rostering was already happening informally across the force, where public service officers were working longer shifts and taking off that time in lieu.
"I can't accept the chief commissioner's assertion that the sun will fall out of the sky because we do something that modernises policing in Victoria," Mr Gatt told ABC Radio on Tuesday.
"It's simply not true."
Mr Patton said an agreement to implement the new rostering, signed by Victoria Police, the Police Association of Victoria and the state government in December, hinged on there being no significant cost increases, no extra officers and no impact on community safety.
"Myself and executive command have real concerns in respect to each of those criteria being able to be met on 9x9 rostering," he said.
Mr Gatt warned the decision could lead to officers leaving in their hundreds.
Opposition Leader John Pesutto wants Premier Jacinta Allan to use her authority to step in and resolve the dispute.
"(The disputes) are creating uncertainty for Victorians generally, and they create uncertainty for the workforce," he told reporters on Tuesday.
Ms Allan declined to weigh into the negotiations, saying the government is focused on working through negotiations as per the mediation process agreed to last year.
Police Minister Anthony Carbines refused to answer questions on rostering changes or whether it could cause a budget blowout at a parliamentary committee hearing on Tuesday.
Cost figures for the nine-day fortnights were raised in the probe, ranging from Victoria Police's estimate of $3 million to no cost from the union.
"The role of the mediator is independent and I should leave the mediator to conduct his work," Mr Carbines told the hearing on Tuesday.
He also rejected suggestions he had lost confidence in the chief commissioner.
Australian Associated Press
