Ambos bring in work bans over pay row

AMBULANCE Tasmania staff have joined teachers and nurses in taking industrial action against the Government’s offer of 2 per cent annual pay increases.

Paramedics and communications staff yesterday announced they would work to rule, claim all allowances, take their breaks and refuse to accept rostered overtime, conceding they could impact lower-priority ambulance services.

Emergency services would be unaffected, the Health and Community Services Union said.

State secretary Tim Jacobson said staff wanted a “reasonable” pay rise but would not be drawn on what the union was asking. “We’re now somewhere around a national average of $10,000 a year behind other states and territories,” he said.

“A take-it-or-leave-it 2 per cent position — which the Government has been spouting now for some six months — is not bargaining in good faith.”

Paramedic Lauren Hepher said staff were working upwards of 14-hour shifts without breaks to keep up with demand and said under-resourcing was affecting ambulance wait times.

“Without being a scaremonger, there are absolutely days that the community should be worried about the ambulance service’s ability to respond to them, absolutely,” she said.

An Ambulance Tasmania spokesman said the state should have confidence in the care provided by paramedics and ambulance officers.

“While we recognise industrial action is being taken, we expect Ambulance Tasmania staff to continue to fulfil their duties to ensure the safety of the Tasmanian community,” he said.

He also warned against the union’s plans to chalk pay-related slogans on ambulances.

Treasurer Peter Gutwein indicated the Government would not budge on its public service pay offer.

“In terms of the wage negotiations we’re offering 6 per cent over three years,” he said.

“We believe it’s responsible, sensible and importantly an affordable offer.”