MFS firefighters join paramedics, electricity workers in mass protest from Victoria Square to Parliament House

Ambos and firefighters marched to Parliament to demand better resources. A paramedic told the crowd of his despair at delaying ambulances for hundreds of patients.

MFS firefighters, paramedics and SA Power Networks workers have marched through Adelaide’s CBD demanding more funding from the State Government.

The MFS have already been warned their pay will be docked and not to use any official equipment if they go to the protest.

MFS chief officer Michael Morgan issued a formal directive on Thursday morning ahead of a rally at lunchtime at Victoria Square.

More than 500 people marched to Parliament House about 12pm Thursday chanting for resources and funding for ambulances and fire trucks.

Paramedics, firefighters and supporters protest in Adelaide over under-resourcing of their operations. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Emma Brasier

Speaking on parliament steps was federal Labor member Penny Wong, as well as United Firefighters Union boss Max Adlam, and Ambulance Employees Association boss Phil Palmer, as well as paramedics and firefighters who shared their stories.

An emotional extended care paramedic, named Paul, said his job now solely revolves around calling patients to tell them their ambulances are delayed.

“My job now consists of calling over 100 patients a day starting with the words, ‘sorry’,” Paul said.

“I often drive home wondering if I’ve made the right decision in holding one case over another. This impact on my wellbeing is now further impacted by calling potentially life-threatening jobs to see if they can wait just a little bit longer.”

Ambulance officers warn of underfunding, on the steps of Parliament House. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Emma Brasier

Ms Adlam thanked her members who risked pay for attending the rally.

“Today’s not just about self-interest … it’s about actually the frustration and despair that our members are feeling as they try to access the things they need as they try to do their job,” she said.

The crowd is marching to Parliament House @theTiserpic.twitter.com/AUEPwS5LID

— Dixie Sulda (@dixie_sulda) April 1, 2021

Momentum is gathering at Victoria Square, with paramedics, firefighters and members of the public rallying for more funding in their [e-mail]/F796IWMw7n

— Dixie Sulda (@dixie_sulda) April 1, 2021

The protest is part of industrial action being waged by the Ambulance Employees Association and United Firefighters Union.

In his directive, Mr Morgan said no MFS employees were authorised to attend the rally.

“I direct that an employee of the MFS who, in relation to the union rally on Thursday, 1 April, 2020, refuses or fails to carry out their duties or is absent from their workplace, home station or from duty shall not be paid renumeration for the period of the refusal, failure or absence,” he said.

MFS firefighters have been ordered to leave their trucks behind if they attend a union rally.

Mr Morgan also said no MFS employee “has authority to make use of, or remove from MFS premises, any vehicle, equipment or property of the MFS in relation to the union rally”.

“No off-duty employee of the MFS is permitted to wear MFS uniform, MFS personal protective equipment (including helmet) or make use of MFS property in relation to the union rally,” he said.

Mr Morgan ordered the directive to placed on bulletin boards at MFS stations.

A statement from treasurer Rob Lucas said the government is committed to resolving the ongoing industrial relations dispute with the Ambulance Employees Association.

He said the Government remained willing to compromise, offering at least an extra 50 ambulance officers conditional upon the union agreeing to sensible roster reform, ambos taking meal breaks at their nearest station and the cessation of industrial action.

“No amount of industrial action will actually help resolve these issues. Ultimately, in the same way that long-running industrial disputes with the teachers’ and nurses’ unions were resolved sensibly by both parties sitting down and reaching a compromise, we hope the AEA will also compromise to help resolve this dispute,” Mr Lucas said.

A statement from SA Power Networks said some members of the CEPU, employed by SA Power Networks, are undertaking limited industrial action in relation to continuing negotiations on their Enterprise Agreement.

“The union claim that we are proposing to cut employee wages and conditions is totally misleading and inflammatory. We previously proposed a 2% pay rise with no other change to terms and conditions that was rejected by unions and employees,” an SA Power Networks spokesman said.