Union officials have acknowledged the impact a marathon pay dispute between ambos and the Victorian government had on paramedics and the broader community. or signup to continue reading The Victorian Ambulance Union on Monday reached an in-principle agreement with Ambulance Victoria and the government for better pay and conditions. The pay dispute has been dragging on since March 2023.
Ambulance Victoria acting chief executive Danielle North, Victorian Ambulance Union secretary Danny Hill and United Workers Union's Fiona Scalon welcomed the deal. "We acknowledge that negotiations have taken longer than anyone had hoped, and recognise the impact this had on everyone at AV, along with our partners and community," they said in a joint statement. "We are hopeful this in-principle agreement creates a new and stronger foundation for collaboration, building of trust and cementing our position as a world-leading ambulance service.
" The wage increases range from 16.98 per cent to 33 per cent over the next four years, including more than 20 per cent for experienced paramedics. The dispute was threaded through a difficult period for Ambulance Victoria, marred by staffing issues, sub-optimal response times and ramping logjams at hospitals.
The organisation's chief executive Jane Miller resigned in August after union members lodged a vote of no confidence in her leadership amid unsustainable workloads and low morale. A Victorian parliamentary committee inquire into the issues facing Ambul.
