NSW Paramedics are set to undertake industrial action, with members of the Australian Paramedics Association (NSW) voting almost unanimously to implement 24 hour statewide bans on staff movement this Thursday.
"Paramedics are exhausted, frustrated, and burnt out," said APA (NSW) President Chris Kastelan.
"We've been calling for basic resourcing to ease the burden on Paramedics and improve service to our communities. But our pleas are falling on deaf ears.
"This Government will happily pay lip service to thanking frontline workers, but when push comes to shove they aren't prepared to properly support us, or pay us what we're worth."
The union has a clear set of demands: 1500 more Paramedics to help meet demand, a massive investment in specialist Paramedic programs and building state-wide referral networks, and a real pay increase to reflect professionalism and skill (in addition to a pandemic bonus and allowance).
"We were understaffed before COVID-19, and Paramedics have been running on fatigue for years.
"We're not just at crisis point—we're now years into a crisis, with no indication of a light at the end of the tunnel.
"There's never been a more important time for our leaders to step up and make a firm commitment to actually improve conditions for frontline healthcare workers."
For 24 hours on Thursday February 17, Paramedics will take action by refusing all staff movements—a practice in which staff are relocated from their station whilst on shift to fill 'roster gaps' nearby. The union says staff movements are routinely used by NSW Ambulance to cut costs and avoid adequately staffing stations.
"We're standing up for better coverage for our communities, and a better workplace for Paramedics on the road," said Mr Kastelan.
"The Premier is facing a week of industrial action from healthcare workers—could the message be more clear? We are fed up with the treatment we've been getting at the hands of this Government.
"Paramedics will be out in droves supporting nurses and midwives on Tuesday. Healthcare workers around the state and across every sector have been undervalued and unacknowledged for too long. "It's disappointing and honestly alarming that our Government ignores the calls from frontline clinicians telling them we need more staff, we need more resourcing to help keep people safe."
