Paramedics to ramp up industrial action as long-running pay fight heats up

Victorian paramedics have voted to escalate industrial action amid a long-running fight over a new wage deal with 70 new actions to take effect from next week.

Victorian paramedics have voted to escalate industrial action as an ongoing battle over a new wage deal nears its 17th month.

Ambulance communications, clinical support, triage services, rostering and air operations will all be affected as part of 70 new actions to take effect from next week.

Ambulance Victoria employees will switch to manual processes, will be banned from organising taxis or Ubers for patient transport and will stop the double loading of non-emergency patients.

The training of new staff and elite MICA paramedics will also be banned while paramedics will no longer initiate Virtual Emergency Department consultations which health insiders have warned would see a surge of presentation to emergency departments.

Victoria’s 5600 unionised Ambulance Victoria employees voted overwhelmingly to step up industrial action, which has been ongoing since March 18, with 97.5 per cent of members in favour of stepping up their campaign.

Victoria’s 5600 unionised Ambulance Victoria employees voted overwhelmingly to step up industrial action. Picture: David Crosling

It comes just days after Victorian Police agreed to introduce a landmark nine-day fortnight for frontline cops as part of a $500m deal to end its long-running pay dispute.

The in-principle agreement, signed on Friday afternoon, came just hours before a pause on industrial action by police was set to end.

Under the agreement Victoria Police will gradually phase-in the introduction of nine hour shifts by 2028.

The police deal, which came despite vehement opposition from Chief Commissioner Shane Patton, was expected to bolster the determination of paramedics, firefighters and nurses who are all involved in protracted pay disputes.

Victorian Ambulance Union secretary, Danny Hill, after 99 meetings, Victorian paramedics and ambulance workers still didn’t have an acceptable deal.

Victorian Police agreed to introduce a landmark nine-day fortnight for frontline cops as part of a $500m deal to end its long-running pay dispute.

“Labor boasts its credentials on supporting ambos. Enterprise bargaining is where they need to put their money where their mouth is,” he said.

“This campaign is about improving work/life balance and longevity in the job. It’s disappointing that paramedics need to escalate industrial action to get a fair result and improve their working lives”

“Ultimately paramedics want to reduce the amount of overtime they are forced to work every day.

“But AV won’t let them go home, not because they are responding to emergencies, they are responding to low acuity cases or ramped for hours in hospital corridors.”

Ambulance Victoria secretary Danny Hill says the industrial actions won’t affect public safety. Picture: AAP Image

Mr Hill guaranteed actions would not affect public safety.

The union has been fighting for more than a year for a better pay deal, improved end of shift management provisions so paramedics can finish their shift on time, and better rural resourcing.

They also want the introduction of shorter night shifts and improved staffing levels to manage resourcing, meal breaks, and crew welfare.

They have accused Ambulance Victoria and the government of attempting to wind back sick leave, over time and travel allowance entitlements.

The union has rejected an offer of a 3 per cent salary increase and a $1800 lump sum payment at the end of each year of the agreement in a move backed by more than 85 per cent of members.