Paramedics are taking state-wide industrial action to push for a real pay rise and improvement to their working conditions, arguing that the Minns government has failed to deliver on critical election commitments.
From Thursday the 25th of May to Thursday the 1st of June, APA (NSW) Paramedics will be taking action to push for a fair pay rise after years of real wage decline. They will place a ban on Staff Movements by refusing to move from their home communities.
APA (NSW) President Chris Kastelan says "This action is an unfortunate but necessary response to a lack of commitment from the NSW Government to address woefully low Paramedic wages."
"Over the past 3 years, Paramedics have been on the frontline keeping our communities safe through the COVID-19 Pandemic."
"We have taken on dozens of new skills over recent years, and all we've received is successive real term pay cuts," continued Mr. Kastelan
The union says Paramedics are more burnt out than ever, with many turning to secondary employment to make ends meet.
"Paramedics are struggling to pay their mortgages, and many of us are seriously reconsidering our future with NSW Ambulance."
After the Minns Government was elected on the promise of scrapping the wages cap and delivering a real terms increase to essential worker wages, Paramedics say they, and their patients, can't afford to keep being patient.
"We need the Government to deliver on their promise of 500 additional regional Paramedic specialists. We need the Government to deliver on their promise of a real wage increase. We need them to deliver on acting on the ramping crisis."
"Taking industrial action is never a decision we take lightly, but the government can't and shouldn't expect Paramedics to sit back and do nothing."
"Ultimately, this is action calling for adequate recognition of the essential work we do, and action to make our workplace and communities as safe as possible."
"Promises and sweet-talk are not enough from the Minns Government. It's time they walked the walk," says Mr Kastelan.
