AMBULANCE TASMANIA STAFF HAVE BEEN CONTINUALLY LET DOWN BY HEALTH MINISTER, MICHAEL FERGUSON

THEY HAVE VOTED TO INCREASE THEIR CURRENT INDUSTRIAL ACTION

Staff at Ambulance Tasmania have been waiting more than eighteen months for a new wages agreement with the State Government. Meetings were scheduled for 9 and 14 June at the request of the Minister in order to settle the current dispute. The Government cancelled both of these meetings.

Negotiations concluded in February, with an in-principle agreement reached between the parties. HACSU wrote to the Government negotiators asking that the agreement be put to a vote. The State Government has refused to complete the final phase of the process.

“Our Members are completely frustrated by the unexplained delays,” HACSU State Secretary, Tim Jacobson said. “It’s our view that the Minister doesn’t have the correct information in front of him. The deal reached complied with the Government’s current wage policy. 5% over three years is less than the 2% per annum that is Government policy, he should talk to us.”

HACSU Members have voted to escalate current bans. New bans include: overtime bans, bans to overnight callouts, bans on performing higher duties, and writing campaign messages on Ambulances.

Mr Jacobson said, “There is little point continuing to negotiate with Agencies (DHHS and AT), when it is our understanding that it is the Minister and the Cabinet who are currently holding up the process.

Their actions undermine good faith bargaining. The trust is gone.”

The Executive of the HACSU-Ambulance Employees Sub Branch met yesterday and agreed unanimously that members will start writing on Ambulances from today, overtime bans commence next week.
“We encourage the Minister to get his advisors in one place and come and talk to us, enough of the grandstanding and cancelled meetings,” said Mr Jacobson.

“We have had low level bans in place for 5 weeks, and not one conversation has happened about reaching a resolution”, said Mr Jacobson. “Our Members feel they have no choice but to increase their industrial action to secure the agreement which should have been made months ago.”
HACSU State Secretary, Tim Jacobson