The Victorian government is hopeful the end of a two-year pay dispute with paramedics is near. Source: AAP
VICTORIA’S long-running paramedics pay dispute appears unlikely to be resolved before the November state election, the government now says.
HEALTH Minister David Davis says the union on Friday lodged a new log of claims including increased meal allowances and a higher pay rise over the 12 per cent on the table.
The new changes would require lengthy negotiations, Mr Davis said, and had the effect of “moving the goalposts off the football field and over the road”. “Equally, Ambulance Victoria remains prepared to negotiate with the union,” Mr Davis told reporters. “But that may well end up having to take place after the election or during the caretaker period.” It was thought the dispute could be resolved ahead of this weekend, to meet a timeline imposed by the government’s need to go into caretaker mode on Tuesday ahead of the November 29 state election. Ambulance Victoria’s current offer would give paramedics a $3000 sign-on bonus and pay rises of six, three and three per cent a year over three years. A controversial proposal that would have paramedics sent to relieve regional areas for up to a month at their own expense was recently scrapped. The dispute has been ongoing for around two years. The Ambulance Employees Association claimed the government was refusing to enter meaningful discussions and described Friday’s meeting as a “charade”. “As for today, there has been no serious attempt by the government or Ambulance Victoria to engage on the substantial issues between us,” union secretary Steve McGhie said.