In a completely unprecedented move, the Department of Health yesterday outright refused to confirm to HACSU that the government will honour the agreement to resolve longstanding unpaid salaries for specialist Paramedics employed by Ambulance Tasmania, a clear signal that Jeremy Rockliff is gearing up to abandon the deal entirely.
The government established the specialist programs (Community Paramedics, Police Ambulance Clinician Early Response and Secondary Triage Paramedics) in response to ramping issues at our major hospitals several years ago, with a promise that they would resolve the salary relating to each of the positions as soon as practicable.
About twelve months ago, Ambulance Tasmania attempted to delay resolving the issue until the next round of bargaining negotiations, even though they had committed to addressing it in the previous agreement. The Department of Health and Ambulance Tasmania later agreed on an interim payment arrangement, including resolving backpay for workers.
The backpay calculations were meant to be provided to each employee – some of whom have been working in these specialist roles for several years – by the end of August. This deadline was set to fall approximately four months after the agreement to implement the interim pay arrangement. However, as of yesterday, the Department refused to confirm whether the government would uphold the backpay agreement, leaving its future in doubt.
Robbie Moore, HACSU State Secretary said, “Never before have we seen a government refuse to confirm whether it will stand by an agreement like this. An agreement with its own Paramedics to pay them for years of specialist work they’ve done without proper compensation. Failing to honour this deal would be a callous, cheap, and deeply insulting decision by Jeremy Rockliff.”
Jan Pur, Paramedic and HACSU Ambulance Executive Member said, “This is one of the most disgraceful and insulting moments I’ve witnessed in all my years as a Paramedic. Does this government not understand how hard we work every day to support the programs they want implemented? The refusal to commit to this agreement is a complete slap in the face to our workforce.”
These workers know all too well how important the work they perform is in ensuring the patients they see do not end up languishing in hospital waiting rooms. Clearly the government does not.
Low level industrial action is already in place across the three areas as a result of the delays in providing the backpay figures. HACSU will be meeting with members next week to discuss yesterday’s refusal by the Department, and escalation of industrial action is likely.