United Voice News
Andrews buries his head in sand on fatigue again
Victorian paramedics have vowed to vigorously defend their right to go on strike for the first time in 36 years, arguing that the real threat to the health and welfare of patients is the government’s refusal to deal with paramedic fatigue.
Fair Work Australia will consider the government’s application to have paramedics’ strike action declared illegal at 10 am this morning.
“Our strike action will create annoyance for Ambulance Victoria but it will not result in any risk to patients,” said Steve McGhie, Ambulance Employees Australia State Secretary.
“It will affect 49 out of 400 shifts or about 12 percent of all shifts this Wednesday.”
“Paramedics are dedicated professionals. They will ensure the health and welfare of the Victorian community is not put at risk.”
“The biggest threat to the health and welfare of patients right now is paramedic fatigue. But once again Daniel Andrews is trying to bury his head in the sand and silence paramedics, instead of solving this problem by supporting proper rest breaks.”
“Paramedics will not be silenced by the Brumby government. We will vigorously defend our right to strike in support of a safer ambulance service for all Victorians.”
Paramedics say the move by Health Minister Daniel Andrews to have their strike action declared illegal is a further example of the Brumby government refusing to face up to the fatigue crisis inside Ambulance Victoria.
It follows revelations Daniel Andrews has ignored internal advice that 10 hour rest breaks for paramedics to combat on-the-job fatigue are justified.
On 22 June the Herald Sun revealed a leaked email from Ambulance Victoria’s former operations manager Keith Young to CEO Greg Sassella contained the staggering admission that “the advice we are getting indicates that we probably have to concede the 10 hours eventually.”
The Friday 24 April 2009 email also implicated Health Minister Daniel Andrews. Young refers to his discussion with the Minister’s ambulance adviser Maria Pereira.
“Have spoken with Maria … [she is] nervous about the 10 hour break issue and that we probably can’t hold the line of [sic] this … particularly if the advice we are getting indicates we probably have to concede the 10 hours eventually.”
The strike comes after 15 months of fruitless negotiations, more than 40 meetings and mountains of evidence produced by paramedics on how extreme fatigue is putting in danger both their own lives and those of their patients.
“Premier Brumby and Daniel Andrews, for 15 months you have given paramedics comforting platitudes about their workload but let Ambulance Victoria stonewall on proper rest breaks,” said Mr McGhie.
“It’s time you answered a simple question: do you support 10 hour rest breaks or don’t you? Are you going to continue to risk the lives of Victoria’s paramedics and their patients?”
From 7am Friday paramedics resumed 13 different types of industrial action. They are defying Ambulance Victoria’s eight hour break policy and instead enforcing 10-hour rest breaks between shifts to combat fatigue.
It is the responsibility of Ambulance Victoria to ensure there is ambulance coverage for the additional two hours.
Other actions include providing a free ambulance service, defying AV’s media policy, bans on recalls to duty during rest breaks, reverting to paper-based patient care records, bans on filling in for managers on leave, and wearing campaign material over uniforms.
Only Victorian and WA paramedics still have eight hour minimum breaks.
