THE paramedics union may have protracted its negotiations on a new pay deal for political reasons, Victoria’s health minister says.
HEALTH Minister David Davis says the negotiations have been going on for two years, and a state election is approaching in November.
“The union is obviously tightly linked up with the labour movement, Trades Hall Council. They’re major donors to the Labor party,” Mr Davis told ABC radio on Thursday. “You shouldn’t be surprised they would, in fact, run a campaign that’s hand-in-glove with Labor.” The Victorian government on Wednesday increased its offer to paramedics should they accept the offer on the table, doubling the sign-on sum to $3000. Mr Davis also said the government was prepared to negotiate on a sticking point in the deal, a provision which could require paramedics to work in remote areas for extended periods.