Police are ramping up their pay dispute with the West Australian government, threatening to issue cautions rather than fines for minor traffic offences.
The WA Police Union has also canvassed the public on whether they would support officers parking their vehicles in front of speed cameras.
More than half of 800 people surveyed have backed the move, while 85 per cent supported officers giving cautions for low-level traffic offences.
The state government has offered a $3000 sign-on bonus and a three per cent wage increase.
Police are seeking a five per cent pay rise this year and next, family friendly rostering and the right to disconnect from work when off duty.
They have launched a month of industrial action including refusing work-related calls and emails outside of rostered hours.
Union representatives were set to meet with WA Police on Wednesday ahead of a board meeting next week.
“If the government wants to turn this into a popularity contest, they’re not going to win,” union president Mick Kelly said.
“Police officers are not allowed to go on strike, but we can use our common sense and discretionary power to make our voices heard.
“I urge the government to present us with their best offer by Friday, one that recognises that, during COVID-19, police officers went above and beyond.”
WA Police deputy commissioner Kylie Whiteley said officers always had discretion to issue cautions.
“We have’t seen any impact on community safety. Should they have to respond to an incident, they’ll respond,” she told the ABC.
“We are hopeful that we’ll have a resolution before there’s any further need for any of that sort of activity to escalate.”
The nurses union has meanwhile faced blowback over its eleventh-hour decision to call off a planned strike at the state’s biggest hospital.
More than 500 nurses and midwives had been expected to walk off the job at Fiona Stanley Hospital on Wednesday.
But the Australian Nursing Federation agreed to call off the industrial action after receiving an improved pay offer from the government.
Members are yet to vote on the offer but some have taken to social media and talkback radio to express frustration over the backdown.
The union has said it will consult further with members prior to the vote.
