Police union threatens to boost work bans

SYDNEY (AAP) - Victoria's police union has threatened to ramp up its campaign of officers warning motorists of speed camera locations unless the government starts talking money in pay negotiations.
Police Association secretary Greg Davies says the union is close to finalising a result with Victoria Police over conditions that will form part of a new enterprise bargaining agreement.
But he said both Premier Ted Baillieu and Police Minister Peter Ryan had not acknowledged correspondence from the union in recent months, and the government had yet to enter into pay discussions.
"We would be expecting them to start talking turkey, certainly by the end of next week," Mr Davies told AAP.
In early June, officers began sitting in patrol cars with lights flashing to warn drivers of the presence of speed and red light cameras, which net the government about $200 million a year.
Mr Davies said if there was no progress on pay negotiations then police would ramp up their campaign.
"We'll devote an awful lot more time and energy into making sure we take as much money as possible off the government," he said.
Mr Baillieu has said pay rises of more than 2.5 per cent won't be granted to public servants without productivity gains, while police want a 4.5 per cent annual pay increase.
A first year constable in Victoria earns about $52,000 a year before tax.
A spokeswoman said the government would continue to negotiate in good faith and was making good progress.