Letter to all POVB Members re recent Wildcat Strike

Now that matters have been returned to a normal situation it is timely that the Union informs members of the background to the recent wildcat strike initiated by representatives at the MRRC.

The strike was called by those persons because an officer on probation had his probationary employment annulled after he had been found guilty by the department of excessive use of force. Before, during and after the strike a number of misleading and at times dishonest statements have emerged from the MRRC and these must be answered.

1. The POVB Executive never gave an undertaking that it would call a Statewide strike in support of the dismissed officer

2. The Executive has pledged total support for the officer in his industrial case against unfair dismissal.

3. The Executive only uses the potent force of a Statewide strike on rare occasions. It is often able to get a clear-cut result by merely threatening such action.

   In the last 12 months or so six officers have been dismissed by the department and many others have been suspended while facing charges.

4. No centres went on strike in support of any of these officers whether dismissed or suspended.

5. No officers across the State lost money as a result of the officers being sacked or suspended. If the MRRC example had been followed, officers would be on strike almost indefinitely.

6. In all cases the officers approached the State Executive and all were supported (one officer is pursuing his own case).

7. In the dismissal at the MRRC no member of the State Executive was involved in any part of the disciplinary hearing.

8. The matter was handled exclusively by local representatives and no input was sought from the State Executive in the inquiry process.

9. A formal application for reinstatement was lodged by the Union within days of a request being made for that action by the officer who had been dismissed.

10. There has been one hearing of the case in the Industrial Relations Commission and there will be a further conference in the Commission on the 5.2.04.

11. This matter is following a normal process and the wildcat strike had no impact whatsoever on the processes of the Industrial Relations Commission.

12. Your Executive does not believe that officers should lose money in an unofficial strike for no purpose.

13. Always remember that the only official strike is one which is endorsed by your Union's Executive.

14. If you have any doubts when you receive a request from another sub-branch for industrial action always check at Head Office.

15. The POVB Executive is committed to serving its full term.

JOHN CAHILL
General Secretary
29 January, 2004