The Victorian government has put a revised pay offer to paramedics. Source: AAP VICTORIAN paramedics have been given a revised pay offer in what the union says will get them very close to resolving the long-running dispute. AMBULANCE Victoria on Wednesday wrote to the union, saying it had removed two sticking points in a bid to break a two-year stalemate. Under the revised offer, Ambulance Victoria will no longer press for the union to agree to a rural relieving proposal governing how paramedics fill shift vacancies in rural areas. It would also continue with a subsidy of time spent away from work for union officials and delegates. Health Minister David Davis said the revised offer came after the union outlined for the first time the terms it was prepared to accept in relation to an offer put forward by the Labor opposition. He said he hoped it would break the stalemate with the union. The government would need a reply by Friday evening so the matter could be dealt with swiftly before the government enters caretaker mode for the November 29 state election, he said. Ambulance Employees Australia state secretary Steve McGhie said the governments offer didnt quite match Labors but it was an improvement. Its a move in the right direction to try and get an agreement and we are very close. We just need to finalise the details between us, he said. Mr McGhie said he will seek a meeting with Ambulance Victoria before the end of the week to iron out outstanding issues. Mr McGhie said it was pleasing the government had removed the rural relieving proposal, under which rural paramedics may have been sent away to do relieving work for up to a month at their own travel costs. Also, it was a good move the government had backed away from removing a condition allowing paramedics on duty to represent members in investigations and disputes, he said. Under the government offer, paramedics would receive a $3000 sign-on bonus and pay rises of six, three and three per cent over the next three years. Labor has offered the same, plus it had already said it would remove the two sticking points involving rural relief work and paramedic representation on the job. Opposition health spokesman Gavin Jennings said the governments offer was a desperate act on the verge of an election.
Posted on: Wed, 29 Oct 2014 21:54:57 +0000
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