Qld paramedics to take industrial action over gruelling overtime shifts
Exhausted Queensland paramedics pushed into shifts as long as 21 hours can vote to take industrial action from Monday as bargaining on pay and conditions stalls.
Exhausted paramedics subject to gruelling 21 hour shifts can move to take industrial action on Monday in the latest wage headache for the state government.
The union is demanding the government put in place a fair end of shift measure so fresh crews can replace paramedics ramped for hours outside hospitals.
Queensland Ambulance data shows 80 per cent of its workforce are working overtime - regularly exceeding 12 hour shifts to keep up with demand. Overworked paramedics are reporting extreme burn out due to unsustainable hours.
The United Workers Union (UWU), which represents QAS employees, has been in wage negotiations with Queensland Health since May but are yet to strike an agreement.
Paramedics are content with the wage offer. What they want is certainty they can go home on time by adding new conditions to their deal.
UWU ambulance co-ordinator Fiona Scalon said end of shift measures would allow paramedics to safely return home instead of exhausting themselves at hospital ED ramps.
“We just have hit the point where they’re not authorised to approve anything they’re not funded for,” she said.
“We’ve seen deals with police, doctors and now nurses and we’ve seen the work that can be done and we’d like a deal.”
Paramedics will be protected industrial action on Monday, but Queenslanders have been assured there will be no risk to patient safety.
Instead initial action will include a messaging campaign, with workers signing an open letter to Mr Nicholls.
One ambulance worker said paramedics were now at breaking point.
“We’re regularly working beyond our rostered hours,” they said.
“We’re missing out on much-needed rest, time with our own families, and time to look after our own health.
“It’s affecting patients too – when you call triple-0, do you want the paramedic looking after you to be on their 13th hour of work?”
It is the fifth threat of strike action by frontline workers against the Crisafulli LNP government this year as frontline worker contracts expire.
The Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union (QNMU), after months of strike action, on Thursday were offered an 11 per cent pay rise with double time pay for all overtime work.
Firefighters struck an 8 per cent pay rise deal three weeks ago after 95 per cent of union members threatened to take strike action.
Thousands of Queensland teachers went on strike earlier this month for the first time in 16 years to protest their 8 per cent wage offer, with a second strike still on the cards.
Originally published as Qld paramedics to take industrial action over gruelling overtime shifts
