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NSW paramedics will refuse all patient transports except those whose lives are in danger in a unique show of force intended to pressure the government into raising their wages.
The industrial action was planned for June 10 when unionised ambos would only respond to those jobs that are triaged as life threatening, Health Services Union secretary Gerard Hayes said.
“Paramedics have never done this before,†Mr Hayes said.
The union said paramedics would be offered a pay increase of just 1.5 per cent, which would be less than the forecast inflation of 2.2 per cent and in effect a pay cut.
It comes after paramedics last year got an increase of just 0.3 per cent.
“To offer them a pay cut is humiliating and insulting,†Mr Hayes said.
“NSW paramedics are already the worst paid in the country and personally carry the cost of their professional registration and education. This pay cut will set them further behind.â€
Mr Hayes said the “historic†action would mean significant disruption but would not put lives in danger.
“We are flagging this action well in advance and have designed it to avoid impacting life-threatening emergencies,†he said.
“(NSW Treasurer) Dominic Perrottet can avert all of this by coming to the table with a fair pay offer. He is swimming in cheap money and stamp duty revenue. He simply needs to provide paramedics a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.â€
Mr Perrottet was contacted for comment.
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