From today, Paramedics across NSW will be taking industrial action after the NSW Government has refused to maintain their wages in line with cost of living.
In May, Paramedics rejected the Government’s offer of a pay increase of 1.04%, which in real terms is a pay cut.
“To call it a wage offer is insulting. Paramedics’ wages have been going backwards and it’s clear that we won’t put up with it anymore”, said APA (NSW) President Chris Kastelan
“The Government’s offer of 1.04% was nothing short of a kick in the teeth. Paramedics are exhausted after being on the frontline of a pandemic for the last year, and this was the final straw.”
Paramedics will be chalking their ambulances and refusing to use electronic medical records. They will be completing all case notes in paper form.
Paramedics are also going to refuse to record billing details for patients, making it difficult for NSW Health to recoup Ambulance fees.
“Paramedics just want to be treated fairly, and to have the work they do recognised as important. With this Government, it has never been clearer how little they care.” Mr Kastelan said.
