By Brad Watts
Canberra Times
Copyright 2007 The Federal Capital Press of Australia PTY Limited
All Rights Reserved
Emergency services could be disrupted in the ACT, with ambulance workers threatening industrial action over pay and working conditions.
More than 120 ambulance officers voted last week for strike action over a month-long dispute with the Department of Justice and Community Safety over having their job title reclassified professional from technical officer.
If their claim succeeds, ACT ambulance officers will be the first in Australia to achieve the controversial reclassification.
Their campaign is aimed at highlighting the extra workload and responsibilities of ambulance officers and the fact they receive less pay than other allied health professionals.
They are also seeking a pay rise of 4per cent over the next three years.
Transport Workers Union official Ben Sweaney said workers had voted unanimously for pursuing industrial action at an administration level.
“Patient care will still be paramount during a [possible] strike. It will be paperwork bans, not affecting the community but the department,” he said. “There’s only been talks about possible industrial action; nothing has been ruled out.” The ambulance workers are also seeking greater acknowledgement of their work. Mr Sweaney said they received much less pay than other allied heath professionals with similar duties.
“They are jack of it all and are tired of being forgotten about and [treated like] second-class citizens.”
While the department had publicly acknowledged a change in work practices for officers, Mr Sweaney said it was yet to be reflected in their pay.
Emergency Services Minister Simon Corbell said negotiations were continuing with ambulance workers. The Government had received no advice about planned industrial action.
“They are simply making a point of an option available to them,” Mr Corbell said.
He said the ambulance officers’ claim was unique in Australia.
“Nowhere in Australia at this point in time are ambulance officers classified in that way.
We are looking at all options.”
Mr Corbell refused to discuss the monetary details of their claim, saying they were “matters for negotiators”.
Ambulance officers have submitted a description of their reclassification to the Government, highlighting their work.