Matildas, NRL and horse racing not impacted by fresh round of ambulance strikes
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Published August 1, 2023
The Daily Telegraph, 1st August 2023
As paramedics refuse to consider a four per cent pay boost and call a fresh round of strikes, refusing to be on standby at sporting games, some high profile and junior sports are unaffected.
NRL games and racing meets will not be impacted by a fresh round of paramedic strikes “at this stage,” ARL Commission Chair and Racing NSW boss Peter V’landys says.
Under strike action agreed to on Tuesday, Health Services Union Paramedics will refuse to be “on standby” at sporting games.
They will still respond if called out to attend an emergency.
While some sporting events cannot go ahead unless there is an ambulance on standby, the NRL and Racing NSW have both put in place contingency measures involving private operators.
“At this stage we will not be impacted,” Mr V’Landys said.
HSU boss Gerard Hayes said that the Matildas’ do-or-die World Cup match on Monday will also not be impacted.
A HSU spokesman confirmed the action would only impact major sporting fixtures and wouldn’t include junior sporting competitions.
Paramedics on Tuesday voted in favour of the work bans as part of an ongoing dispute over pay and conditions.
They have refused to consider a proposed $3500 pay rise offered by the government until they are given professional rates of pay.
Mr Hayes said the only way that the government can end the strike action is to give in to paramedics’ demands.
“This will not finish until the government comes to the table and offers paramedics the professional rates of pay that they have campaigned for.”
“They are professional in their own right and they should be recognised,” he said.
“We have an attraction and retention crisis among NSW paramedics because pay simply does not reflect skills.”