Ambulance union imposes new work bans

Two years on, the paramedics' pay dispute with the State Government shows no sign of ending

By GEORGIE MOORE

Hundreds of paramedics rallied in Melbourne today after voting to impose new work bans in their fight for better pay and working conditions.

Paramedics marked the second anniversary of their dispute with the Napthine Government as they marched to State Parliament shouting: “Paramedics here to stay. Denis Napthine go away.”

Ambulance Employees Australia general secretary Steve McGhie told paramedics Fair Work Australia had given the union the right to impose 27 forms of industrial action.

These include allowing media and politicians to accompany paramedics, releasing ambulance response times without Ambulance Victoria's approval, and recording patient data on paper, not electronically.

Mr McGhie said it was wrong of the Government to say its offer was for a 12 per cent pay rise over three years, because paramedics had not had a pay rise since 2011.

He said Victorian paramedics were paid up to $20,000 less than their interstate counterparts.

“All we’re asking for is that you be recognised like paramedics in other states and be paid the same, similar, or better,” he told the rally.

Last month the union rejected the Napthine Government’s $3000 sign-on bonus package.

“It’s a 12 per cent offer effectively over five years, so it’s only 2.4 per cent per annum. That’s a half a percent less than the current inflation rate,” he said.

“They’ve offered a $3000 sign-on fee in lieu of back pay. It doesn’t even match any loss of back pay,” Mr McGhie told mojo.

But the union’s dispute is not simply about money.

“They have to stop the proposal of moving rural paramedics all around the state, making it compulsory to move around, removing them from their families for up to a month without an agreement,” Mr McGhie said.

Victorian Health Minister David Davis told reporters the Government was trying to give paramedics a pay rise, but the union was blocking it.

“Ambulance Victoria wants to pay a pay rise. The Government supports that pay rise.”

“The only people standing in the way of paramedics getting a very significant pay rise as the hardline, Left-wing ambulance union,” he said.

State Treasurer Michael O’Brian called on the union to do the right thing by its members, rather than drag the dispute out for political purposes.

“I'm very disappointed that the leadership of the ambulance union are so close to the Labor Party, and so close to Trades Hall, that they seem to be interested in dragging this thing out until the election for political purposes rather than doing the right thing by their members,” he told reporters.

Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten spoke at the rally, calling the Napthine Government “negligent” for letting pay dispute run for two years.

“If you are able to go one day longer than the Napthine government, you will resolve this in your favour,” he said.

“No self respecting government lets a strike or a dispute go for two years, that is negligent,” he said.

Mr McGhie said the union was meeting with the Napthine Government next week.

“We’re hopeful we can make progress but if we can’t we just have to continue to campaign,” he said.