Police begin push for pay rise to stop constables quitting force

Police have begun a push for a pay rise with some rank and file officers suggesting a 15 to 20 per cent hike is needed to stop constables quitting the force.

The Police Association has warned its members in its magazine Police News that there could be “torrid negotiations” ahead.

Officers have complained that police pay is sliding backwards compared with other professions, with one estimating that an increase of at least 15 to 20 per cent for constables is required.

At present, a new police constable’s base annual salary is $56,106. The average salary is around $67,078.

The officer said a constable’s alary was “ridiculous. They work shifts [mostly], deal with the shitty side of life and get little reward.

“I note nurses and teachers have closed the gap over the years [because they fight] and in most cases have overtaken a constable’s salary. I remember when nurses and teachers were about 70 per cent of an equivalent service constable, but not now.”

The negotiations come at a time marked by industrial action in the public sector. Nurses have already been on strike, primary school teachers will strike next month, ACC senior doctors walked off the job this week, and MBIE and IRD staff have been on strike.

Legally, police cannot go on strike but Police Association president Chris Cahill warned Police Minister Stuart Nash that frustration may materialise in more staff leaving the force. The Coalition Government has promised 1800 new frontline officers over three years but police say recruitment will not cover the “churn rate” of police leaving the force.

“What this Government must realise is that there’s significant pentup frustration in the public sector and generally around the lack of resources, which in our case the Government’s met,” Cahill said, “but also pay”.