Victorian police are working to “stop the wage theft”, paramedics have been hamstrung by ambulance ramping, while ageing firefighter trucks continue to break down. Photo: UFU Victoria.
Emergency service workers across Victoria are negotiating for better pay with the State Government, amid multiple crises.
Emergency services Minister Jaclyn Symes is facing wage disputes from three unions: The Police Association Victoria (TPAV), Victoria Ambulance Union (VAU), and the United Firefighters Union (UFU) state branch.
Despite an expected $2.2 billion deficit in the State Budget this financial year, calls for better compensation by frontline workers have multiplied after nurses and midwives secured a 28.4 per cent wage increase in July.
TPAV is demanding a 24 per cent rise over four years and the introduction of 8.5-hour shifts to account for unpaid time. This would contribute around $200 million to Victoria Police’s wages bill, which is already at $3.2 billion per year.
The union’s industrial action began in December after discussing pay and conditions with Victoria Police for over six months. TPAV secretary Wayne Gatt said at the time that members were “burnt-out, stressed out and suffering”.
However, after rejecting the State Government’s last offer of a nine-day fortnight and three per cent pay rise, the union is clear it wants more.
“Our members have seen other workers receiving higher pay rises and they feel that the nature and importance of their work to the community should be held in the same regard and attract the same rewards,” he said.
Last week, the Fair Work Commission handed down its decision that voting on TPAV’s protected action ballot would close on 16 September.
In the meantime, Victorian police will continue adorning patrol cars with union slogans and giving drivers a heads-up on speed cameras. Mr Gatt said their principal demands were for “an ironclad commitment from their employer to embrace immediate rostering reform to end the cycle of wage theft that they have perpetuated for so long”.
Police want to “Stop the Wage theft“, firefighters want their trucks replaced and paramedics “DESERVE to have A LIFE TOO”. Photo: TPAV.
Meanwhile the VAU has called on members for ideas on what additional industrial action they’d like to take.
General secretary Danny Hill and assistant secretary Olga Bartasek wrote in a statement that its union had resisted escalating industrial action further – “in good faith”.
“In recent weeks the unions and Ambulance Victoria (AV) have been able to progress a number of outstanding items in enterprise bargaining in the hope of being able to finalise an agreement for our members.
“However, after 20 months of negotiations, it appears the government are still procrastinating on finalising an enterprise agreement with Victorian paramedics and ambulance workers. This delay sits with government not AV.”
Recently published call-out times show paramedics are facing abnormal delays thanks to ramping at overwhelmed emergency departments. Mr Hill claims it has resulted in “some of the worst response times we’ve had on record”.
Ambulances are expected to arrive within 15 minutes at least 85 per cent of the time in Code 1 ‘lights and sirens’ cases. Yet in the last quarter, data shows this target is only being met 64.2 per cent of the time.
The UFU has rallied behind this push for better pay and conditions to emergency services workers.
Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) policy states vehicles are to be replaced at a maximum of 15 years. However, the union claims there are over 70 fire trucks breaching this rule, including one more than 30 years old, putting lives at serious risk.
The State Government received a formal submission by FRV earlier this year that requested 20 new fire trucks. It also identified 15 ageing trucks with heavy rescue capability, for which the UFU claims there is no backup if they break down.
No response was provided to the union.
Branch Secretary Peter Marshall said Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister Symes had “shown nothing but disrespect for the people who put their lives on the line for you and our community”.
“Why do Minister Symes, Premier Allan and the Victorian Labor Government put first responders last? Respect those who put their lives on the line for you and the community now!” Mr Marshall said.
