Vic: Ambos call on Brumby to resolve rest break dispute now

AAP General News (Australia)
08-11-2009
Vic: Ambos call on Brumby to resolve rest break dispute now

MELBOURNE, Aug 11 AAP - Victorian paramedics want to reach a deal with the state government
on pay and conditions immediately to avoid compulsory arbitration.

Paramedics want breaks of at least 10 hours between shifts and a pay rise. They average
just six hours sleep a night while on roster, according to a union survey conducted last
year.

Colleagues in most states are allowed 10-hour breaks. Only Victorian and West Australian
paramedics have eight-hour breaks between shifts.

Ambulance Victoria has offered all staff a 2.5 per cent pay rise and increased allowances.

The 21-day conciliation period expires at midnight (AEST) on Tuesday and the dispute
will progress to compulsory arbitration if no deal is struck.

Ambulance Employees Australia state secretary Steve McGhie says a resolution through
arbitration could take nine months.

Paramedics are eager to reach an agreement with the government but will not accept
any deal that excludes decent rest breaks, he said.

"(Premier John) Brumby and his government have pushed paramedic patience to the very
limit," Mr McGhie said.

"They need to take this last chance to resolve this dispute through agreement, rather
than continuing to ignore paramedic and public safety concerns."

Mr Brumby said the dispute had dragged on because the parties were a long way apart.

"From our perspective, we have got a wages policy and a budget that is difficult to
balance in the global financial crisis," he told Fairfax radio on Tuesday.

"I want to see this resolved at the earliest opportunity."

Mr Brumby said his advice was in the last few days the parties had moved closer to
reaching an agreement.

Mr McGhie said paramedics would not compromise on adequate rest breaks because that
would undermine their safety and that of the public.

"Every paramedic can tell you about times they have been dangerously fatigued and about
the near misses they have had," he said.

"A death is inevitable unless proper rest breaks are introduced."

The Australian Greens called on Mr Brumby to give paramedics the "basic human dignity"

of a rest between shifts.

"I can't believe MICA paramedics have had to threaten to resign to get what everyone
else takes for granted - a decent rest break between work shifts," Greens upper house
MP Colleen Hartland said.

AAP mj/pmu/dep/

KEYWORD: AMBULANCE

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.