Paramedics and police claims to test Andrews wages policy

Emergency services unions are campaigning for generous pay rises of up to 6 per cent a year as they prepare to test the Andrews Government’s new wages policy.

Paramedics want pay hikes of 6 per cent a year.

Emergency services unions are campaigning for pay rises worth millions of dollars a year in what will be a major test of the Andrews Government’s new wages policy.

Unions representing paramedics are at the bargaining table and want pay hikes of 6 per cent a year — three times what the government is ­proposing.

And the Police Association recently told members it would push for a 4 per cent annual rise.

Other public sector unions are watching the looming EBA battles closely, given they will be the first major deals struck under Labor’s new industrial relations policy aimed at belt-tightening.

Some unions also fear that if matters are sent to the Fair Work Commission it would lean in favour of employers, rather than finding a midpoint between two claims.

The looming industrial relations showdowns come amid a split in the paramedics’ union, with former Ambulance Employees Australia boss Danny Hill and his leadership group registering a new Victorian Ambulance Union after a disagreement over a merger.

Mr Hill said yesterday talks for a new workplace agreement had been constructive but that “paramedics are worth way more than 2 per cent”.

“Response times are better than they have ever been,” he said. “High performance CPR … is saving more lives than ever before.”

Former Ambulance Employees Australia boss Danny Hill is registering a new Victorian Ambulance Union.

Last term the Andrews Government delivered a work value case for paramedics, which resulted in base salaries rising by thousands of dollars.

But unions say this merely adjusted flawed pay scales in Victoria and that demanding work done by paramedics deserves a more generous salary.

Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien said: “Daniel Andrews marched in the streets with trade unions to demand bigger pay rises.

“Our paramedics believed him but the Premier has now gone back on his commitment.

“The Premier needs to explain why he supports big pay rises for CFMEU officials but not hardworking paramedics.”

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Police are yet to ramp up their bargaining, but members of the Police Association have been told that the government’s wages policy is too low and 4 per cent a year will be a starting point.

The emergency services union claims come after the Andrews Government’s ministerial staff took industrial action after being offered a pay hike of about 1.75 per cent a year.

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