Officers want job offers honoured

Several Auckland police officers are taking legal action after jobs they thought they were going to in Christchurch were cancelled.

The seven detective constables and one constable, who applied for work with the Christchurch CIB, received phone calls saying they had a job but then were told there was only one position going and that Auckland could not sustain the loss of staff.

The upset officers want the job offers honoured.

An officer told the Herald he had made arrangements to move, was renting out his house and told his family and friends he was going.

"If they won't release us because they're short-staffed, that's not my problem," the officer said.

"In the real world this wouldn't happen but in the police organisation it appears it does."

All the officers had put in job applications and they had all been accepted.

"We just want to get to Christchurch," he said.

Another officer said many of the eight applicants were originally from Christchurch and had done their time in other regions. They saw the job as a chance to move home.

"The biggest thing was ringing up your family and friends and saying you're going to be home for Christmas and then having to ring up and say, 'Sorry, guys. Maybe another year'."

The letter they received from police human resources general manager Wayne Annan, dated November 10, said the loss of staff in Auckland could not be sustained in the environment where CIB staff were working under "constant pressure".

An external review was being carried out into how jobs were advertised in the future, the letter said.

Mr Annan said yesterday there were ongoing talks about the situation with the Police Association.

He said Christchurch was only authorised to advertise one job, but a staff member had accepted all 11 applicants for the position.

"In a legal sense they haven't suffered any loss at all and we're having discussions with the association as to how we can resolve it to everyone's satisfaction."

The Auckland officers say they will pursue the matter with the help of the Police Association lawyer and want the job offers honoured.

JOB TRAIL

* September 2: Job advertised with Christchurch CIB. Eight Auckland police officers apply.

* October: All rung and told they have a job.

* November 10: All advised by letter there is no job.