1,500 policemen again plead for overtime pay
Almost 1500 policemen have filed a judicial protest calling on the Commissioner of Police to pay them for overtime work accumulated over the years, or grant time time off in lieu.
The protest is the second filed since October 2009, with the policemen saying that no reply had been made to their first protest and they had been offered only a fraction of what is due tot hem.
The policemen explained that the terms of their working conditions, as drawn up in 1993, state that: "payment of overtime at 1.5 times the rate of pay will be made for any hours worked in excess of 46 hours per week when time off in lieu cannot be given."
The policemen said it was inconceivable and unacceptable that in a democratic country, for policemen to be treated in this way, especially when the government should be a model employer.
The policemen said that that unless they were compensated immediately, they would take all actions available to them at law.
The protest was signed by Dr Robert Abela and Gerald Bonello LP.
In January last year, after the first protest, the Police Commissioner said there was no outstanding overtime to be paid to members of the force.
Asked about the judicial protest Commissioner John Rizzo said: "I can put your minds at rest that every hour worked outside the normal hours have been paid for."
The GWU in a reaction to today's statement said it was backing the plea made by the police. It insisted that the government should pay the policemen what they are due.
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A. Borg
May 16th 2011, 19:48
1500 pulizija go din in-naqra ta Gzira narhom hafna. Nixtieq inkun naf kemm hemm minnhom bl-uniformi u kemm hemm minnhom "On foot " patrol? Ghax jien rari nintaqa ma Pulizija fi triq.
Mr Alexander Azzopardi
May 16th 2011, 21:25
L 1500 forsi mhux hafna , il mistoqsija tibqa fejn huma/ fejn ikunu ?
John Carmel Navarro
May 16th 2011, 19:37
This whole situation is farcical The Government is making a monkey of the Police Force; any money owned must be paid forthwith. The Honourable Minister responsible needs to endorse payment Malta is developing a reputation of having a Government that just looks after its own personal interests, the people do not seem to matter anymore.
Martin Abela
May 16th 2011, 15:46
Police officers were in 1993 suspended for not accepting to work 84 hours per week, they were from the SAG, the goverment is saying that there is a time bar (preskrizzjoni) on the length of time he can pay, so now we reached a state were the goverment abuses and then tries to use the law as ashield, shame!!!! these are those who always championed liberty and justice.
Probably the goverment is forcing a quick payment before the election, and before the Union is introduced, that UNION THAT PM GONZI SAID WOULD BE GIVEN TO THE POLICE BY MARCH 2011, OR HAS HE HAD SO MUCH ON HIS MIND THAT HE FORGOT.
Mr Michael N Cassar
May 16th 2011, 15:44
Imagine no Police for one week just on strike ????????Or sick we need this force every hour of the day or are we going to call the AFM????
Mark Jones
May 16th 2011, 21:00
It's not all bad - the traffic would flow much better at major junctions without police interference.
Mr Michael Buhagiar
May 16th 2011, 15:38
GWU back off from this issue. Your interference is just causing treason thanks to one of your own employees.
Mr Joseph Calleja
May 16th 2011, 18:58
Please be more specific Mr Buhagiar. Some of us might be a bit ignorant of what you are trying to say. If you start something, finish it. By the way the word treason is a big word.. They used to hang people for that.
Mr Joseph Brincat
May 16th 2011, 15:29
So Gonzi has given himself and his minister €500 weekly which he get secret until the cat was eventually let out of the bag and yet he is acting like a Scrooge with the policmen!
Mr Alfred Grech
May 16th 2011, 14:00
The government don't hesitate to spend big money on fancy cars for the ministers and/or waste money on perks for the MPs but they don't hesitate cheating our police officers from oney they are owed.
Such attitude is very harmful and it demoralizes the police force.
Mr Joe Cordina
May 16th 2011, 13:53
Is it true that an offer has been made for the police to be paid a fraction of what they are owed?? and to make matters worse, those police officers who have since resigned would not be getting anything??? SHAME
Mr Lawrence Fenech
May 16th 2011, 13:52
Ma baqax flus, haduhom tal-parliament, Euro 500 fil-gimgha mit-2008 u Euro 6,000 kull wiehed duty free, Euro 200,000,000 BWSC, Euro 40,000,000 Piano, Arriva, AirMalta x'jibqa? Euro 1.16 cents ghalina.
Mr Joseph Calleja
May 16th 2011, 13:34
So either the police officers or the police commissioner is not telling the truth. Is this another case for the Financial Minister to look into, very seriously? Somehow or other this Minister seems to be a very busy man. First the Air Malta fiasco, now the cheap fare they are offering to citizens living abroad to come vote on a very unnecessary and very expensive referendum which has nothing to do with the running of the country,, then the huge debt at Enemalta, the Vat cheating incident and now the police are complaining about lack of overtime pay and so on. Quo Vadis Minister?
Mario Grima
May 16th 2011, 13:32
This 'Money no problem' PN government cannot even honour their promises, or perhaps they have changed their war cry with 'money is a big problem'
Ms Rhonda Balzan Bastow
May 16th 2011, 13:22
As I see it, you don't really want your Police force 'pleading'...GIVE THEM IT!!
Mr Marcel Dingli
May 16th 2011, 12:15
The Police Department is a disciplined force. A disciplined force has no rules or trade union, it is like the army. It is either they lump it or leave. No body compelled them to join the police force , it was their choice.
Mr Michael Buhagiar
May 16th 2011, 15:40
very well said. And look at the results. Sometimes some of the men, not the majority skip their duties and remain closed in their stations just doing nothing. Shame on this type of constables and then they lament that they are not being well treated with a well known journalist who speaks up for the lazy few. while ignoring the perils of the majority and hardworking officers.
Mr Alfred Grech
May 16th 2011, 15:47
Oh, what a dumb argument Marcel. So the police are to work overtime and they don't get for their time, right? That's a gross dishonesty. They joined the force to work hard, and many do, but they should and must get paid if they perform overtime.
Ms Rose Cilia
May 16th 2011, 19:26
Please enlighten me Mr. Dingli, are you implying that policemen should work without expecting to be paid because the article is about overtime payments which were not paid,no?
It could be that Dr. Gonzi is waiting for the next election to pay them!
Luke Stivala
May 16th 2011, 22:19
Policemen/AFM have families too Mr Dingli, are you implying that they are animals and should work overtime for nothing ? If you were in their boots, would you be willing to do the same ?
I highly doubt it !