Paramedics across Tasmania have launched industrial action after the state government allegedly walked away from a deal to pay specialist staff for years of unpaid extra duties.
The Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) claims it is the first time in modern Tasmanian history that a government has broken an agreement with its own workforce.
At the centre of the dispute are community paramedics and other specialist roles who, the union says, took on extra responsibilities for years without receiving extra pay.
HACSU says an agreement was reached in April to start paying these workers and provide backpay.
But the union claims the state government pulled out just as staff were about to be told how much they were owed.
“We don’t ever walk away from agreements reached with governments,” state secretary Robbie Moore said.
Moore blamed the state government directly, saying it wasn’t the Department of Health or Ambulance Tasmania behind the decision.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff told parliament on Wednesday the government had either received or was awaiting wage claims for 16 agreements due for negotiation this year.
“We have had a caretaker period and the head of the state service remained in regular communication with the unions,” he said.
“The unions agreed to this and the lead negotiator continued to engage positively with the unions.”
In response, the union has banned members from taking part in any expansion of integrated care activities, including rolling out community paramedics in rural areas.
“Our members save the lives of Tasmanians on a daily basis, often under the most difficult of circumstances,” HACSU’s executive said.
“To be betrayed by our own employer, who owes so much to us, is a devastating blow.”
Union members are set to meet again to consider further action if the dispute drags on.
