Tasmania cannot afford to offer paramedics a 14 per cent pay rise despite doctors having won an increase, Health Minister Michael Ferguson says.
The State Government is locked in a legal dispute with the Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) over the rise which was awarded by the Industrial Commission.
The Supreme Court is yet to rule on the Government’s appeal against the commission’s decision.
Earlier this month, the Government opted not to appeal a commission ruling that doctors receive a pay increase of between 6.5 and 8 per cent.
HACSU has ramped up its campaign, delivering a petition to Mr Ferguson’s Hobart office with 750 signatures urging the Government to drop the paramedics’ court case.
Mr Ferguson said Tasmania could not afford the pay claim and pointed out the rise was substantially higher than the Government wages policy.
Paramedics angry over doctors’ rise
Intensive care paramedic and union delegate Lauren Hepher said the decision on the state doctors’ case had upset paramedics.
“We work horrendous shift work hours, we are there for the community, we turn up rain, hail or shine, and for the Government to challenge our case but to not challenge the doctors’ pay rise is an absolute kick in the guts for us,” Ms Hepher said.
Mr Ferguson said doctors were in a very different positions to paramedics, having not had any wage increases for three years.
He accused the union of misleading tactics by comparing the two disputes.
“We agreed to the increase for doctors because they had been on a freeze for three years,” he said.
“Their pay rise (was) broadly in line with our wages policy, quite obviously a 14 per cent increase is a very different story.”
Union fears case will drag on
Tim Jacobson from the HACSU said the fight could drag on if the Supreme Court ordered the Industrial Commission to change its decision.
“It may be another 12 months before our members get an annual increase,” he said.
“Paramedics are in their second year of not receiving any pay rise.”
In the meantime, young paramedic graduates were looking outside Tasmania in search of better pay.
“[There is a] very real prospect that the decision will be handed back to the Industrial Commission to reconsider various elements,” he said.
“We’re already seeing as a result of a major campaign in the UK, paramedics leaving this state and going to the UK, picking up positions there.
“That’s the last thing we need to happen in Tasmania, as we need to keep our best and brightest.”
Mr Ferguson said the state finances were already stretched.
“Everyone knows that we have a tough budget situation and simply cannot afford to pay any more,” he said.