Ambulance Tasmania CEO Joe Acker backs new pay offer

A new pay offer to Tasmanian paramedics, if accepted, would see them “among the best compensated in the country,” their boss says.

HACSU Industrial Manager Robbie Moore. Picture: Chris Kidd

A new pay offer to Tasmanian paramedics, if accepted, would see them “among the best compensated in the country,” their boss says.

In an email to staff on Friday night headed “bargaining update” and leaked to the Mercury, Ambulance Tasmania CEO Joe Acker said there were several new and improved conditions “that will greatly benefit our employees”.

“One of the main highlights of this new offer is the increase in earnings for all paramedics,” he wrote.

“In the first year, earnings will increase by between 4.1 per cent and 5.9 per cent, taking into account the cost of living and retention payments where applicable.

“In addition, a new rural and remote allowance will be introduced, which will see paramedics at rural stations receive a first year increase in earnings of at least 8.7 per cent and those in remote stations receive an increase of at least 12.8 per cent.

Ambulance Tasmania CEO Joe Acker.

“We believe that these salary increases, along with the enhanced allowances, will make Ambulance Tasmania paramedics among the best compensated in the country.”

Mr Acker also spells out improvements in paid training, an increase in the professional development allowance and a commitment to implement fatigue management protocols.

He said a missed or interrupted meal allowance would be increased to $29.20, and if a meal break was missed due to an extremely busy shift, employees would be paid 30 minutes of overtime for each missed meal break.

Mr Acker also said a major outcome from the bargaining was to work to reduce ambulance ramping with a new protocol for mandatory transfer of care from paramedics to hospitals.

HACSU industrial managed Robbie Moore said paramedics would reject the offer and step up industrial action.

‘Totally unsafe’: Union slams revised paramedics pay offer

PARAMEDICS have received a revised pay and conditions offer from the state government after months of terse negotiations and an “incomplete offer” laid out on Christmas Eve.

But the Health and Community Services Union Tasmania says the new offer, which arrived on Thursday night, still doesn’t address the key issues of meal breaks and fatigue management, and doubts its members will accept it.

In fact, industrial manager Robbie Moore said staff would consider escalating industrial action, and potentially even go on strike, given the government’s offer was “totally unsafe”.

“It’s just so disappointing that despite having paramedics at the table, explaining it to negotiators, that they’ve not listened.”

HACSU Industrial Manager Robbie Moore. Picture: Chris Kidd

Mr Moore said a membership meeting would be held late next week, with members considering escalating industrial action.

“Everything will be on the table and I think it’s inevitable we’ll be looking at stop work meetings and strikes,” he said.

Mr Moore said paramedics would not put lives at risk, but any potential industrial action could cause inconveniences.

“They have to take this action to fix our health system,” he said.

Mr Moore said the government’s salary offer was “still not fantastic”, with Tasmanian paramedics still likely to be among the lowest-paid in Tasmania.

However, he said salary wasn’t the main concern – safe working conditions were, and that it was vital for paramedics to get guaranteed meal breaks.

“The number one reason people are leaving, despite wages not being very good, is working conditions,” he said.

Mr Moore said HACSU was calling on Premier and Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff to “come to the table and talk directly” with paramedic and ambulance staff.

Deputy Labor leader Anita Dow. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Labor MP Anita Dow said the situation was unacceptable and other states were offering incentives to get paramedics to work and stay.

“The state government is planning a new stadium while people in the north cannot get vital health services,” she said.

Acting Premier Michael Ferguson said the government had made a fair, reasonable and final offer that would give salary increases and improved working conditions while maintaining service delivery.

“In the first year of this new offer, all paramedics will receive an increase in earnings of between 4.1 per cent and 5.9 per cent, taking into account the cost of living/retention and low-income payments where applicable,” he said.

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