Furious paramedics unions accuse Labor of ‘turning its back’ on them

Labor is being accused of ‘political bluster and spin’ by angry paramedics unions threaten industrial unrest.

Health workers are threatening a wave of industrial action in NSW, with furious unions accusing the Labor NSW government of “turning its back” on them.

The unions claim the government is dragging its heels on key election promises to increase wages for paramedics and other key workers.

In pointed comments directed at Premier Chris Minns, the Australian Paramedics Association NSW (APA) accused Labor of “political bluster and spin” and promised to continue industrial action.

Hundreds of members of the Health Services Union (HSU) will walk off the job today over what they declared was a lack of progress on pay negotiations.

HSU secretary Gerard Hayes said Wednesday’s strike was just the beginning of a series of planned industrial action.

Health and hospital workers protesting wages last April in Sydney. Picture: Christian Gilles

“We’re just getting started,” he said. “I have no doubt action will be ongoing.”

The APA also expressed anger over pay and work negotiations, with state assistant secretary Brendan McIlveen saying: “We’ve been patient but the government seemingly has turned their back on frontline healthcare workers.”

Nurses and midwives strike last November.

Picture: Gerard Hayes.

“Frankly, paramedics feel conned by the NSW Labor government. All their pre-election promises seem to have just been political bluster and spin,” he said.

The government ordered APA NSW before the Industrial Relations Commission last week in a bid to get them to drop industrial action.

Mr Minns said he was “hopeful” the government could reach a pay deal with the majority of unions soon.

“We are working hard in relation to a deal but I'm not prepared to detail when that is,” he said.

“We're working very hard to ensure that we can get a fair agreement in relation to wages.”