NSW paramedics threaten to boycott registrations over pay dispute

ABC NEWS (Australia)

More than fifteen hundred paramedics in NSW have signed a pledge to boycott their registration renewals, a move which could rule them out of ambulance services. The threat follows a pay dispute with the state government.

Transcript

00:00 The registration for these paramedics is due to expire at the end of this month, but there

00:06 is a grace period which means that they will legally be able to work until the end of December.

00:12 But if this threat to boycott renewing their professional registration goes through, that

00:17 means the registration of more than 1,500 paramedics would lapse by the 1st of January

00:23 and they wouldn't be able to legally take triple zero calls.

00:27 And this is all over a pay dispute with the state government.

00:31 The Health Services Union wants the state government to give paramedics a pay rise of

00:36 nearly 25% and they say this will bring them in line with other states and territories

00:42 and give paramedics the professional recognition they deserve.

00:45 And the Health Services Union says that paramedics are ready to take what they're calling the

00:50 nuclear option.

00:52 Alison has the state government said anything at this stage?

00:57 Karina, a spokesperson for the state's health minister Ryan Park says the government is

01:03 engaging in good faith negotiations with the union and working on appropriate remuneration

01:09 and we are due to hear more from the health minister at a press conference later on this

01:13 morning.

01:14 Previously, the government have offered paramedics a pay rise of 4%, but that was knocked back

01:20 by the union.

01:20 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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