Police officers have overwhelmingly rejected their latest pay offer, with a third-party arbitrator to be called in to settle the pay negotiations.
Now, the union is warning the Government they have one last chance to "lift their game".
The latest offer was put to a vote between April 8 and 17. However, an overwhelming response of more than 75 percent voted "no", the New Zealand Police Association said on Wednesday afternoon
Association president Chris Cahill said the outcome sends a clear message to Government: "This offer falls well short of addressing officers' concerns and very real needs".
"Our members were looking for a sincere effort by Government to correct the crippling erosion of police living standards caused by the cost-of-living crisis and to recognise the increased challenges and dangers police officers face in keeping New Zealanders safe," Cahill stressed.
"This offer fails to provide any real attempt to remedy the steady decline in officers' salaries, particularly when measured against comparable professions' salaries, such as teachers and nurses.
"If police and the Government genuinely value the role and commitment of officers, they need to lift their game in the remuneration stakes. They have one more chance to do that."
The Police Association will now ask the mediator in this process to immediately direct negotiations to final offer arbitration.
"We have a clear expectation that Government will now fund Police to improve what it puts on the table at final offer arbitration," Cahill said.
Police Minister Mark Mitchell told Newshub the outcome is "incredibly disappointing".
"The offer was significantly better than what was presented in August last year, with an additional quarter of a billion dollars of government funding," he said.
The new offer included:
- The overtime rate that the Association asked for.
- A $1,500 cash payment for Police.
- A locked in pay increase in the third year well beyond the forecast rate of inflation - something which may not have been guaranteed under the offer made last August.
"The Government has been very open about the financial challenges we've inherited, and despite the challenging environment, this was a markedly better offer," Mitchell said.
"It's disappointing that police officers are now faced with an arbitration process that will add more time to what has already been a lengthy process."
He said the matter is "for police and the association to work through those steps".
