The Wire

The Victorian Police Union has secured for its nearly 17,000 members new rights – the right to ‘disconnect’. Once officers clock off, the new agreement means that they’re finished working, a welcome change for many.

The high-stress work environment means that employees need a respite if they are to conduct their job properly, which prior to the union’s victory was often impossible. The union secretary, Wayne Gatt, says that before officers “carry their work 24/7”. He hopes that the changes mean officers will be able to wind down and return to normal.