Unions unite against Ambulance Victoria headquarters amid looming job chops

A second union has launched a no-confidence motion against Ambulance Victoria headquarters, saying its members “no longer have faith in the leadership or the direction of the organisation”.

Managers at Ambulance Victoria have taken the unprecedented step to vote in support of a no-confidence motion against the agency’s under-fire executive.

A second union – separate to the powerful Victorian Ambulance Union which represents paramedics – wrote to Ambulance Services Minister Mary-Anne Thomas on Monday to voice their “severe concerns about the current leadership” of Ambulance Victoria.

Ambulance Managers and Professionals Association director Scott Crawford said of members who took part in the poll — which include corporate staff at Ambulance Victoria such as senior managers and the HR and communications departments – 85 per cent voted in favour of the no-confidence motion.

It comes on top of the 97.8 per cent of Victorian Ambulance Union members who passed a similar vote of “no confidence” in the agency’s executive on Friday.

Ambulance Victoria has called on the board and Ambulance Services Minister Mary-Anne Thomas to appoint new management to rebuild public trust. Picture: Kelly Barnes

In his letter to Ms Thomas, obtained by the Herald Sun, Mr Crawford called on the Allan government to “take urgent action to address the failure of leadership at Ambulance Victoria”.

“Many roads have led to this point. Underpinning it all is a toxic workplace culture and a fundamental lack of respect for the Ambulance Victoria workforce,” he wrote.

“This is an unprecedented step from AMPA. Our members are professionals and managers. They work tirelessly to support the ambulance service, our paramedics and the community. They don’t seek the spotlight, they work behind the scenes. But they have had enough. They no longer have faith in the leadership of Ambulance Victoria or the direction of the organisation.

“This situation cannot go on. Our members will continue to serve the community, but cannot serve this leadership.”

Ms Thomas has sought advice from the Department of Health and will meet with Ambulance Victoria chair Shelly Park this week.

Premier Jacinta Allan hasn’t ruled out placing the besieged organisation into administration.

On Friday, Ms Allan said the current conflict between the Ambulance Victoria executive and paramedics is not tenable.

Premier Jacinta Allan says it’s early to consider appointing administrators to the beleaguered organisation. Picture: Ian Currie

“I am concerned that we are seeing clear challenges in the relationship between management and paramedics. This is not a sustainable situation,” she said.

“We do need to see these matters resolved. These matters between management and the workforce can’t continue in this way.

“We do need to see better, harmonious relationships.”

In a statement on Friday, Ambulance Victoria chief executive Jane Miller said the organisation respected the right for employees to voice their concerns.

“We are committed to rebuilding the trust of the workforce in our Executive team and will continue working extremely hard to ensure our organisation is one that we can all be proud of,” she said.

“Our people, along with the patients they care for, are our absolute priority.”

In 2014, the former Andrews government sacked the agency’s board and appointed an administrator to Ambulance Victoria.

Managers at Ambulance Victoria have taken the unprecedented step to vote in support of a no-confidence motion against the agency’s under-fire executive. Picture: David Crosling

The vote in support of a no-confidence motion comes as Ambulance Victoria embarks on a major restructure of the entire organisation with leaked documents revealing dozens of jobs within its headquarters could be cut in a bid to rein in spending.

Leaked presentations sent to Ambulance Victoria employees, obtained by the Herald Sun, reveal some of the measures the organisation is proposing to save money.

The Herald Sun has been told jobs across the entire organisation are now in doubt with the restructure set to affect every division.

According to internal documents, a proposed restructure of the strategy and engagement team would majorly affect 24 jobs, which sources say would equate to roles being scrapped entirely. Within that same team, there is a proposal for 11 roles to undergo “moderate changes”.

The Herald Sun has been told jobs across the entire organisation are in doubt. Picture: David Crosling

Meanwhile, 32 positions from the people and culture division and 27 jobs within enterprise services have been flagged as facing a “potential major change” under the proposed changes.

Ambulance Victoria said the changes will not impact the number of frontline paramedics and first responders.

Ambulance Managers and Professionals Association director Scott Crawford said the organisational restructure was “ill-thought out and poorly designed”.

“These rolling restructures are job cuts and demotions disguised by confusing and meaningless bureaucratic drivel,” he said.

“This will be a case study in years to come about how not to restructure an organisation. Despite all this chaos, Victorians can be assured that our members continue to work tirelessly. They are at the point, however where they have lost trust in their own leadership. This should have been an opportunity to bring people with them and rebuild trust, their actions have had the opposite effect — they’ve poisoned the well.”