United Voice

In this issue:

1. Members say ‘We will strike’
2. Time to take the next step, says veteran ambo
 

Dear member,

The public treats us as professionals. Why won’t our state government?

For a year now we have negotiated with them about professional pay and conditions and longer rest breaks to address fatigue.

We have had thirty meetings with the government. We have argued our case. We have been prepared to compromise.

If fact we offered productivity improvements that government values at $30-40 million. But they say that’s nowhere near enough.

It’s clear they are not interested in recognising our skills and professionalism. They actually want to strip away our conditions.

The time has come to show this government we are determined to make Ambulance Victoria Australia’s safest and best ambulance service. 

We need wages that will attract and retain Victoria’s highly skilled paramedics. And we need conditions that will allow you to your do jobs safely and deliver better patient outcomes.

The public is right behind us. A recent Herald Sun poll showed 94 percent public support for 10-hour rest breaks.

We can win this.  But we will only win if every one of us shows the government that we are all standing together and we will not accept their insulting offer. 

Like the teachers, nurses and the other health professionals before us, we must be prepared to stand up and fight.

Members realise this. At meetings across the state we have voted unanimously to take protected industrial action.

It’s time to remind this government that we provide a first class service to our community and we will not be taken for granted.

Steve McGhie
AEA-V State Secretary

1. Members say ‘We will strike’

At meetings across the state paramedics are voting unanimously for industrial action after pay talks with the State Government broke down.

Ambulance union members are saying they are determined to make the State Government recognise and support them as professionals. 

“I’m proud of the professional service paramedics provide and I want to be able to continue in my job,” said MICA paramedic Craig Hazelwood. 

“But as an experienced MICA paramedic I earn marginally more than a graduate teacher, in their first year out.”

“If we’re not successful with this EBA we’re going to lose paramedics to other organisations, because we just can’t afford to work as paramedics under these wages and conditions.”

“The government was elected on the promise of fixing the ambulance service. It’s time to remind them of that,” he said.

“I am absolutely prepared to strike.”

Across Australia paramedics have won – or are on the way to winning – professional pay. Only Victoria and Western Australia still have 8 hour breaks while Queensland paramedics may soon have their 10 hour breaks extended to 12 hours between shifts.

“If it comes to it, I will strike,” declared Ballarat paramedic Baydon Beddoe.

“We have a lot of the same skills as doctors. The government doesn’t seem to realise many of us have university degrees. We want to be remunerated and recognised at the same level as other health professionals.”

“We had a meeting on Monday. We had the best roll up for a meeting we’ve ever had,” said Shepparton union rep Kelvin Tingate.

“Everyone there rejected the government offer. Everyone supported industrial action.”

“We do an excessive amount of overtime here to prop up the failing ambulance system. We don’t have enough staff and we can’t get them. The eight hour break is impacting on home life and keeping us away from our families.”

“I’ve been in the job for 28 years. The ten hour rest break should have happened 20 years ago.”

“For the health and safety of all Victorian ambos we need a minimum ten hour break,” said Melbourne paramedic Helen McManus. 

“The professional paramedic men and women who care for the Victorian public should be recognised as such by the State Government in the same way that other states are doing.”

“We can win this. And it is extremely important we win this now or we’ll get left in the dark ages for another four to five years.”

“We have worked extremely hard to get the government to negotiate with us on an honest basis. They don’t seem to take these issues seriously.”

“Ambos across the state need to unite. If we’re united we will have the strength to force this government to listen.”

2. Time to take the next step, says veteran ambo

Paramedics are rarely described as militant unionists. Bryan Cass certainly doesn’t see himself that way.

Yet this veteran member from Blairgowrie was a willing participant in the last ambulance strike in 1973.

“We hadn’t had a wage rise for ten years. It was getting to the stage where fellas were leaving the job,” he remembers.

“In the end we had nothing to lose, because the wages were so low.”

“I had three daughters. We just couldn’t afford to live.”

“Striking is a last resort. But if all the talking and meetings are not achieving anything, it is all you’re left with.”

“You’ve got to let management know you’re serious.”

“We stuck together and stayed strong. That was the only way we won.”

And win they did. “We got a 20 percent wage rise.”

It was ground-breaking. Before, ambos were basically just drivers says Bryan.

“After the strike the job really changed. The fellas were happier. They could stay and make a career out of it. They could start planning for the future. The job became semi-professional.”

Byan sees parallels with today.

“Now we want to take it the next step to become fully professional.”

“We’ve now got the skills but we’re not being paid for them.”

“It’s about getting the service to recognise what the public already know. The public treat us as professionals, but the Government won’t recognise it.”