NCAU ACTIVE has been in dispute with the <strong>Ambulance</strong> Service of NSW (ASNSW) over its treatment of officers experiencing difficulties with the introduction of a new qualification, Certificate IV Level, for all frontline supervisors. A number of members in rural NSW have not been able to complete the course work due to heavy workloads and have been threatened with demotion. A dispute with the ASNSW over increasing incidences of single officer crewing and responses has highlighted the need to increase staff to minimise the incidence of single officer crewing and response. Other issues include: • Rostering dispute in metropolitan Sydney • HSUeast has pursued the <strong>Ambulance</strong> Service of NSW in the NSW Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) following its introduction of three afternoon shifts in Sydney without consultation. • Response time dispute • HSUeast has been highlighting the effects of poor ambulance response times that have resulted from new guidelines used by the Controls (Communications) Division. • Attempted introduction of critical care classification In September the Services Aero Medical Division attempted to introduce a component of critical care training for Intensive Care Paramedics working on ASNSW helicopters. HSUeast is opposing this introduction of programs. The matter will be pursued in the NSW IRC if current negotiations do not resolve the matter. Victoria On 4 October 2011, the <strong>Ambulance</strong> Employees <strong>Austral</strong>ia (AEAVIC) and <strong>Ambulance</strong> Victoria circulated a detailed document, as a joint bulletin, about how fixed term reliever appointments would work in rural branches throughout Victoria. In the following weeks, the union attended 13 meetings around Victoria at rural branch locations. The attitude to the proposal was mixed, and there was not a clear mandate to proceed. As a consequence, the union conducted an online vote on the proposal. The result was 30.8 percent in favour, and 69.2 percent against. Members pointed out that where branch rosters had an on call component, employees forced into the reliever position were likely to be financially disadvantaged by not working their on call shifts. It was also highlighted that at some branches, the number of employees eligible to be rotated into the reliever position was very small. This meant that some employees would be doing relieving work for the most part of the year. The union and <strong>Ambulance</strong> Victoria will resume their positions as applied before the issue went to Fair Work <strong>Austral</strong>ia. AEA VIC believes a reserve system of rostering cannot be introduced in rural Victoria. In line with current practice, if you are rostered to a ‘spare line’ and asked to move to another location, this should occur within the shift and with the use of a service vehicle. Return to your normal branch to complete the shift at the rostered finish time, unless otherwise agreed between yourself and management. AEAVIC is calling on members to look after their own health and safety after it was brought to the attention of the union that a paramedic had responded to a call as a single officer, they were then forced to transport the patient to hospital by themselves. Members should be aware that when responding to any case as a single officer, Occupational Health and Safety issues should be remembered, including: • Only respond in a code 2 capacity (not lights and sirens) • Request immediate back up • Do not enter a scene if in doubt about your own safety • Transport patients only when attended by a two person crew Do not be pressured into transporting a patient by yourself. South <strong>Austral</strong>ia State Government Budget The 2010 State Budget held some nasty surprises for public sector workers, which of course includes ambulance service staff. The ALP Government legislated to remove award and Enterprise Bargaining conditions. It removed leave loading from all non-shift workers, and the additional six days per annum accrual of Long Service Leave for all employees with 15 or more years’ service. The <strong>Ambulance</strong> Employees Association SA, in conjunction with its state union colleagues, mounted a spirited challenge to the decision. The campaign included mass rallies, and a battle for the hearts and mind of the SA public. We called for the restoration of the lost conditions, the restoration of real labour values in the Government, and for a change in leadership. We have since won the leave loading back and the political demise of former SA Premier Mike Rann and senior Minister Kevin Foley (both resigned in October 2011), and we are continuing to negotiate the recouping of long service leave entitlements, or of some agreeable alternative. The AEASA is not affiliated with any political party, but is proudly affiliated with the union movement, and proud of our united and successful attack on out-of-touch politicians. Enterprise Bargaining We have probably broken some record in the time it has taken to negotiate the latest deal. Discussions commenced in January 2010, and at the time of writing the deal is still not finalised. The delay has become somewhat of an advantage however, as in the middle of our discussions earlier this year, the Police Union struck a 10 p ercent over three years deal, after all other public sector workers had accepted 7.5 percent. The police deal became our mantra from that time on. The deal is still not finalised, but very close. Resourcing – Road and CommuniCATions The AEASA and SA <strong>Ambulance</strong> Service (SASS) have been resourcing issues in earnest all year. Statistics suggest that a significant aspect of the problem is insufficient Patient Transport Services resources to meet elective workload demand, which pushes that work up to the second tier, the Emergency Support Service. SAAS are obviously hoping that putting on more resources at patient transport services level will relieve the pressure for more paramedics. We do not believe they will get away without increasing resources at all three levels. Overpayment of professional rATES back-PAy As a result of the AEASA’s successful professional rates case, members received significant amounts of back pay – there were many instances of $30,000 and some much higher. Unfortunately, for about 200 of our members, the Whole of Government pay office (Shared Services) bungled their back-pay calculations and overpaid them, once again for some members these were significant amounts (tens of thousands). The AEASA has negotiated a reasonable repayment deal, where no member has to pay more than 3.88 percent of their fortnightly pay. It was our preference that all overpayments be written off, but this was not legally achievable. FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE COUNTRY, GO TO www.ambulanceactive.com.au and choose your state on the right hand side. 14 AMBULANCE ACTIVE SPRING 2011
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