Regional paramedics fear they will be forced to work away from home for up to a month a year, as a dispute between Ambulance Victoria and its union continues.
Front-line paramedics have been fighting with the State Government over pay and conditions for more than two years.
Ambulance Victoria says it wants to introduce a system to fill short-term unplanned absences like sick leave in rural areas.
The union says paramedics could have to travel more than an hour each way, outside shift times.
Warrnambool paramedic and union delegate David Ahearn says the proposal is unacceptable.
“We’d like to talk about it and see what other options there are,” he said.
“The AEA [Ambulance Employees Association] are happy to discuss that … and other ways we can deal with this.”
Health Minister David Davis says the system would be fair and the union is being misleading.
“They’ve said some of these things but they’re not true,” he said.
He said the system would initially be voluntary.
“The system would be a fair one and it would lead to a good outcome for the public,” he said.
Ambulance Victoria insists paramedics would only travel up to an hour from their homes.
The State Government is offering a 6 per cent pay increase, with a further 6 per cent by 2016, along with a $3,000 sign-on bonus.