The association’s bargaining team says the significant and sustained action is having an effect during pay talks – but now is not the time to step back.

With bargaining moving into the next, more formal phase this month, association president Steve Watt says the strength of the campaign continues to come directly from members themselves.

“The really important thing for members to understand is that their voice is genuinely being felt at the bargaining table,” Steve says.

“We don’t walk into those sessions alone. We walk in carrying the experiences, frustrations and stories members are sharing every day through Repay the Risk activity as well as the public support those real work stories have produced around the country.”

Police has now lifted its general wage increase offer for constabulary from 0.6% to 1.3% – a figure the association still considers unacceptable. It is seeking a general wage increase of 5% to exceed cost-of-living increases.

However, bargaining team members say the movement demonstrates sustained pressure is having an impact.

“We’re disappointed the offer remains so low, is far below what officers deserve,” national secretary Erin Polaczuk says. “But we’re also clear that members’ actions are making a difference. We know there’s room for Police to move further.”

“This campaign has been unlike anything we’ve seen before because members have taken ownership of it themselves. So much of it has grown organically – people finding lawful and creative ways to show how strongly they feel.”

Across the country, members continue to wear yellow or orange Repay the Risk wristbands, display posters and stickers, deliver postcards and speak publicly about the realities of policing and the relentless, growing pressures frontline staff face.

Some stations have taken other practical actions such as ensuring members finish work on time where possible, disconnect from work when off duty and claim all allowances and reimbursements they are entitled to receive.

“We want members to remain safe and stay well within the law,” Steve says. “Absolutely there are lawful ways for people to demonstrate their anger, frustration and solidarity.”

Erin says the visible support from members has helped keep morale high during bargaining talks.

“You can feel isolated sitting at the bargaining table, but when you know members are out there backing the campaign, you genuinely feel them standing behind you,” she says. “It strengthens the bargaining team and it also reinforces to the employer that this is not just bargaining team members speaking – this is the voice of the membership.”

Members’ stories and campaign material will continue to play an important role as bargaining progresses, Erin says.

“We’re formally including members’ postcards and experiences in the process because this can’t simply become a battle of economists and spreadsheets.

This bargaining round is about morale, retention, workload pressures, wellbeing and the realities of modern policing.”

The next stage of bargaining – known as voluntary facilitation – begins this month and will involve an Employment Relations Authority member overseeing discussions between the parties.

The process is designed to challenge both sides’ positions more rigorously and push bargaining closer towards resolution.

“Up until now, bargaining has been more informal,” Steve says. “With facilitation, there’s now someone in the room actively testing the strength of arguments from both parties and pushing both sides to justify their positions.”

Members can expect most issues to be worked through during facilitation, Erin says, although unresolved matters – particularly around pay – may still proceed to final offer arbitration.

Under that process, an arbitrator must ultimately choose either the association’s final position or Police’s final position on each unresolved matter.

The bargaining team remains focused on securing the strongest possible outcome for members, Steve says. “This is a long game and we are not at the end of the road yet.

“Our message to members is simple: Keep going. Your voice is being heard and your efforts are helping push this bargaining further than it otherwise would have gone.” – CARLA AMOS