As outlined in our previous newsletter on the subject: Update on pay (including professional pay), ADHSU members need to be ready to fight for this year’s pay rise should it fall below expectations.

Inflation is running hot and getting hotter, the government froze wages in 2020 (.3%) and stole members’ super increase last year (2%), meaning this year’s rise must be significantly more than 2.5%. We think something in excess of 5% is reasonable.

Despite our urgings, NSW Government has not come to the table. In fact, we can’t be sure if they’ll even ‘offer’ the legal maximum 2.5%.

In response, HSU has called for stop work meetings to occur this Thursday, across all public hospitals and Ambulance facilities. This is going to make a huge impact. HSU covers 48% of the health workforce from Paramedics, Scientific Officers, and Cleaners, to Allied Health Professionals, Admin staff, HSMs and PTOs – just to name a few.

Please see below how the different ADHSU members working in Ambulance should participate in Thursday’s action.

Members covered by the Paramedics and Control Centre Officers Award

Members under this award are covered by the Essential Services Act which requires life threatening jobs to be responded to during periods of industrial action. There will be a stop work zoom meeting for no more than 1 hour from 0700 Thursday 7 April. All members under this award must attend. If you are on duty, you should attend and participate unless you are given a 1A, 1B, 1C, or 2i – all other jobs can wait. Further info and texts will be sent out before Thursday morning.

Members covered by the Operational Ambulance Managers Award

Members under this award are also covered by the Essential Services Act. In consultation with the Superintendents Sub Branch, the Superintendents will not action anything that will cause conflict with on road members and will not directly circumvent or direct any HSU member to refrain from taking ongoing industrial action.

Members covered by all other Awards (e.g. Health Managers Award, various Allied Health Awards)

All metro-based members under these awards should join all other HSU members and stop work to attend the NSW Trades Hall meeting from 1000-1400. If you in a position that needs to be excluded from the action – for example, Industrial Relations staff – you should consider the best form of solidarity action that you can take.

Paramedics should note: our requirements are at least a 5.5% increase this year to make up lost ground. The professional rates campaign is separate and ongoing.