Paramedics’ pay talks under threat as union acts like ‘jealous ex’

Paramedics have slammed the tactics of a union they say is trying to recruit them and described it as “behaving like a jealous ex-partner who has been dumped and can’t move on”.

Paramedics have hit out at the “creepy” tactics of a union they say is trying to recruit them back into the fold after a bitter internal split.

The Victorian Ambulance Union was set up to represent paramedics after a union merger between United Voice and the National Workers’ Union left members feeling out in the cold.

Thousands of ambulance employees transferred over to the new VAU, but United Voice has been “bombarding” them with phone calls in a bid to claw them back — and has now resorted to buying website names related to the Victorian Ambulance Union.

The industrial warfare now threatens to affect pay talks ­between ambulance unions and the Andrews Government.

General secretary of the VAU, Danny Hill, accused United Voice of “behaving like a jealous ex-partner who has been dumped and can’t move on”.

Industrial warfare now threatens to affect pay talks between ambulance unions and the Andrews Government.

“Thousands of paramedics who have resigned from United Voice are still being bombarded by them. It’s getting really creepy and they want it to stop now,” he said.

On buying up VAU website names, Mr Hill said: “United Voice members pay to be provided with an industrial service, not to have their money spent on petty vendettas”.

United Voice declined to comment.

Details of a new workplace agreement have been negotiated for months, with the VAU and UV demanding pay rises of 6 per cent a year, compared to the government’s offer of 2 per cent a year.

However, the VAU — which claims the bulk of the state’s paramedics as members — has softened its language as it tries to lock in improved ­conditions and job reclassifications that could see staff better off overall.

MORE NEWS

NO DRINK DRIVING CONVICTION FOR SETKA’S WIFE

HERRMANN PENS APOLOGY TO AIIA’S PARENTS

TEEN ARRESTED OVER SUSPICIOUS JELLS PARK FIRES

A bulletin sent to employees said work being done to improve the incremental wage structure was expected to deliver “further wage increases”.

But UV warned paramedics that a deal with a 2 per cent a year headline pay increase would eventually leave them worse off than colleagues in other states.

UV has also threatened to reintroduce the Code Red campaign that caused the Napthine Government major political damage.

[e-mail]