NSW paramedic reject record pay offer amid strike action
Negotiations have collapsed between the New South Wales government and the union over a pay rise for paramedics. The health services union has rejected an offer of 11 to 25 per cent over four years which would mean the state's paramedics would still be paid six per cent less than those in Queensland. Paramedics have threatened to strike by not renewing their registrations.
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TVTranscript
00:00 A meeting between the Health Services Union, the Health Minister and the Treasurer ended
00:07 bitterly this morning.
00:08 The HSU has been asking for a 20% increase across the board to bring their pay in line
00:14 with Queensland and to stop paramedics from moving interstate.
00:19 The government says it's offered an average increase of 19%.
00:24 But the union says that's misleading and the deal on the table would still see NSW
00:30 paramedics paid significantly less than their Queensland colleagues.
00:34 Almost half of paramedics have not renewed their professional registration and won't
00:39 do so until the pay dispute is resolved.
00:43 The concern is when their registrations expire on January 1, there'll be severe staffing
00:49 shortages at one of the busiest times of the year.
00:52 I am bitterly disappointed, bitterly disappointed that the HSU has rejected this offer and walked
00:59 out of the mediation this morning.
01:03 If this means that Triple 0 collapses on 1 January, it will be a disaster for the people
01:09 of NSW.
01:11 The union boss, Gerard Hayes, addressed members this afternoon.
01:15 We are trying to maintain a paramedic workforce and at the moment you are the lowest paid
01:23 and the highest injured.
01:25 The dispute will now head to the Industrial Relations Commission in the hope they can
01:29 find a resolution by the new year.
01:32 [BLANK_AUDIO]