A 16-month industrial dispute between Ambulance Victoria and its workers appears far from resolution after a new pay deal was rejected by the union.
Ambulance Employees Australia – Victoria general secretary Steve McGhie said after two hours of fresh negotiations with representatives from AV and the Department of Health on Thursday “no progress has been made”.
A new proposal of a 12 per cent pay increase over three years was made by Ambulance Victoria after a meeting of all parties on 26 November.
However Mr McGhie said this pay increase would occur in exchange for “stripped” conditions.
AV’s proposed conditions include changes to the way shift penalties are paid, changes to overtime pay for part-time workers and increased utilisation of Ambulance Community Officers – first-aid trained volunteers.
Mr McGhie also criticised the timeline of proposed wage increases – a six per cent rise in 2014, three per cent rise in July 2015 and three per cent rise in July 2016, in addition to a $1500 sign-on payment for full-time employees.
He said the wage increase was effectively a 12 per cent rise over five years from 2012 to 2017, because there was no rise in 2012, or 2013, which equated to 2.4 per cent per year.
Mr McGhie said the union argued the future wage increases should be brought forward.
He said it seemed likely AV would agree to the union’s request to allow the Fair Work Commission to implement further wage increases it saw fit.
In a letter AV chief executive Greg Sassella sent to all paramedics on Wednesday he outlined the pay increase plan and the changes AV wished to make.
“The changes being sought by AV… are designed to maintain and increase the capability, flexibility and mobility of our workforce in order to better service the community,” Mr Sassella said.
Releasing further details of the AV offer this morning, Health Minister David Davis said the most common grade of paramedic would be earning about $110,000 in the last year of the proposed agreement.
“This is a generous package by anyone’s standards, but it is a fair package that values the work of our highly skilled paradmedics,” Mr Davis said.
While further discussions are scheduled for this week, Mr McGhie said a rally had been organised for Wednesday from 10.30am outside Parliament House.
“Paramedics are annoyed and frustrated by this process – this could have all be resolved over 12 months ago,” Mr McGhie said.
