Victorian government reaches pay deal with paramedics after two-year industrial dispute

VICTORIAN paramedics have struck a pay deal with the State Government, after a two-year industrial dispute.

Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews campaigning at Ballarat. Dan and local candidate, Geoff Howard, meet the Wendouree Ambulance Victoria crew. Picture: Jay Town

VICTORIAN paramedics have struck a pay deal with the State Government, after a two-year industrial dispute.

Hours after being sworn in earlier this month, Premier Daniel Andrews referred the long-running dispute to the Fair Work Commission, with a deal struck last night.

Under the deal, paramedics will receive a $3000 sign-on bonus plus a 6 per cent pay increase from January 1, followed by 3 per cent increases in the next two years.

The former government put a similar offer to the union which included a $3000 sign-on bonus, double the previous bonus of $1500, and a 12 per cent pay rise over three years.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the State Government had reached a resolution in two weeks which the Coalition couldn’t achieve in two years.

“Labor ended the war on our hardworking paramedics, then we ended the ambulance dispute and now we’ll fix the ambulance system - because our loved ones matter,” Mr Andrews said.