Paramedics rally for recognition

MEDIA ALERT

Hundreds of paramedics will attend a mass meeting at Sydney Trades Hall from 2pm Tuesday, ramping up their campaign for professional recognition and pay.

Sydney MP Alex Greenwich will take delivery of a petition with more than 10,000 signatures demanding the Government urgently adopt professional pay rates.

The skills and value of paramedics has skyrocketed over the past decade as they have taken on increasingly clinical and public health functions. Paramedics now perform diagnostic procedures and administer medicines that prevent someone suffering a heart attack from deteriorating. This delivers a superior patient outcome and saves the taxpayer tens of thousands of dollars in hospital costs.

However the pay of NSW paramedics does not reflect this uplift in skills and they have fallen well behind similar health professionals in NSW due to the 12 year long wage cap that prevented meaningful wage bargaining.

“Paramedics are being shortchanged and they have had enough," said Gerard Hayes, HSU NSW Secretary. “The skills and productivity of the typical paramedic are worth many multiples of what they are paid, yet their salaries have gone sideways.

“Sagging morale has created a staffing crisis and unless we pay paramedics what they’re worth, they’ll keep moving to Queensland and Canberra.

“Paramedics are essential and deserve that recognition.”

Further information: Nick Lucchinelli 0422 229 032