FOLLOWING A STATEMENT FROM THE HEALTH MINISTER LAST WEEK IN WHICH HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT “IS KEEN TO RESOLVE THE CURRENT INDUSTRIAL DISPUTE OVER NEGOTIATIONS,” AMBULANCE TASMANIA STAFF ARE OUTRAGED THAT ANOTHER MEETING HAS BEEN POSTPONED BY GOVERNMENT.
A meeting scheduled for Thursday, 9 June was rescheduled for Tuesday, 14 June. At the last minute, HACSU were contacted by government to say that the meeting had been cancelled. Understandably, the hardworking staff at Ambulance Tasmania are outraged at the government’s blatant disregard towards them.
Staff at Ambulance Tasmania have been waiting more than eighteen months for a new wages agreement with the State Government. Negotiations concluded in February, with an in principle agreement reached between the parties. The State Government is now refusing to finalise the agreement and put it to a vote of staff.
“We still have no idea what the problem is, we negotiated and agreed on an outcome in February. This is bizarre in the extreme. Minister Ferguson demanded a meeting and then cancelled it without discussion,” Acting HACSU State Secretary, Robbie Moore said.
“Is the government so distracted by infighting and ministerial scandals that normal business is not even being looked at?”
“The agreement covers the period of 2014 through to 2017. There was an offer proposed by the government negotiators which we said should be put to our Members for a vote in February. Since then the government has been stalling.”
The Executive of the HACSU-Ambulance Employees Sub-branch will be meeting today to discuss escalating industrial action. They are frustrated and annoyed at ongoing Government delays and lack of leadership from the Minister.
“The Government needs to make us an offer in line with the outcome of the negotiations,” Robbie Moore said. “Our Members have not had an EBA wage increase since 2013. This includes the 000 call takers and Emergency Dispatchers; the people who answer the phones and dispatch the ambulances when a medical emergency arises. They deserve better treatment from this government.”
“Our Members have reached a point where they are no longer prepared to wait for government to finalise the agreement. Members do not like taking industrial action, but feel they have no other choice, escalations are highly likely at this point”.
“Patient safety will not be compromised by the industrial action. Our Members will continue to be available to provide the high level of care, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.” Said Mr Moore.
ROBBIE MOORE (Acting State Secretary)
