St John Ambulance NT warns of 24-hour delay to paramedic pay, with union warning of mortgage, rent and bill stress

Mortgages, rents, school fees and bills put in danger after paramedics were told their pay would be frozen for 24-hours due to financial issues at the Territory’s ambulance service.

Territory paramedics are pushing for an emergency Fair Work Commission hearing after being told their salary would be frozen for 24-hours due to financial issues at St Johns Ambulance service.

Legal documents seen by the NT News show that the United Workers Union has commenced action with the ombudsman after paramedics and other staff were told on Thursday that they would not be paid on time for the last fortnight of work.

“We wish to advise that unfortunately today’s payroll run has been delayed to tomorrow due to a delay in receiving payment from the NT government for our ambulance services,” an all-staff email from St John People and Culture department said.

“We apologise for the inconvenience and understand that this may have an impact on personal financial needs for each of you.”

“The government payment has been made to St John NT but not in enough time to clear and pass on salary payments to our staff.”

The St John Ambulance service email said the delayed payments were expected on Friday, depending on each staff member’s “individual banks”.

St John Ambulance NT units ramped at the Royal Darwin Hospital. Ambulance ramping, RDH. Picture: Alex Treacy

The United Workers Union, which represents the ambulance service workers, said this jeopardised their member’s automatic mortgage payment, endangering them to default on rental payments and not meet their school fees or medical bills.

With 10 days left until the end of the financial year, some members have also raised concerns about their planned payments into their superannuation.

UWU Northern Territory branch secretary Erina Early said the delayed payment with no notice was “completely unacceptable” and further evidence that the ambulance service “is in crisis”.

“We have been inundated by calls from our members that St John NT are not in a financial position to pay their staff today,” Ms Early said on Thursday.

“There is a legal right to pay your employees.

“St John NT cannot notify your employees on the day of payment that they are not in the position to do so without any notice.”

UWU Northern Territory branch secretary Erina Early said the delayed payment to paramedics with no notice was “completely unacceptable”. Picture: Floss Adams

Ms Early said even if there was a delayed payment from the Territory government, the nationwide service could have temporarily pulled funding from elsewhere to ensure Territory workers were paid on time.

“Our paramedics should be prioritised,” she said.

St John director of Ambulance Services Andrew Thomas apologised to staff for the inconvenience but said it was “due to a situation beyond St John NT’s control”.

“We deeply apologise to all of our staff and understand that any delay in salary payments can have a personal impact and cause distress,” Mr Thomas said.

In the all-staff email St John Ambulance Service said the delayed payment was due to the NT government.

The government promised an additional $7.8 million in the May budget, which Health Minister Selena Uibo said would allow the ambulance service to continue perform their life saving function amid increased demand pressures, before the $45.9m investment for the 2024-25 budget period.

Mr Thomas said less than half of that agreed additional funding had actually been delivered.

St John's NT Operations Manager Andrew Thomas. Picture: Adnan Reza

This is despite a NT Health spokeswoman saying 75 per cent of the May funding boost has already been paid, with a $5.9m top up over the past 29 days.

“While we understand that the government processed the payment yesterday, banking delays have not enabled us to pay our staff today,” Mr Thomas said.

Mr Thomas said the service continues to negotiate the terms and conditions of the next six months of funding.

He stated that under the employment obligations they were required to pay staff by the Sunday of the pay cycle, but the service made the choice to pay workers three days earlier on a Thursday.

This is despite the UWU claiming that the St John’s enterprise bargaining agreement clearly stated that payments were required on a Thursday

In an urgent application to the Fair Work Commission, the union has alleged the 24-hour delay was a breach of the agreement which states: “Pays will be processed on a Thursday in fortnightly instalments …(unless it) is a public holiday”.

Barkly Region Ambulance Centre, St John Ambulance, Tennant Creek. Picture: Alex Treacy

The legal documents, seen by the NT News, call on the Fair Work Commission to arbitrate the dispute “as soon as possible”, pushing for the ambulance service to admit to breaching the enterprise bargaining agreement.

“The Applicant has been advised by members that the breach of the Agreement will result in inabilities for many to make due repayments and necessary purchases,” the union said.

“The Applicant’s members have advised that they have entered into financial arrangements on the expectation of being paid as per the agreement.”

In their application to the Fair Work Commission the UWU has said they had not yet received a response from the St John Ambulance chief executive.

“The Northern Territory is one of only two jurisdictions in Australia where ambulance services are contracted out to a non-government entity,” the UWU said.

“The Respondent receives funding from the Northern Territory to provide ambulance services.”

It comes amid an independent structural review of the Territory’s ambulance services.

“The Northern Territory government will continue to work with St John Ambulance to ensure effective management of its finances and delivery of operational services,” the NT Health spokeswoman said.