Yesterday, the Control Award negotiation committee met again with the Ministry of Health. This time, after receiving a recommendation from the Industrial Relations Commission, the Ministry was forced to come to the table with concrete responses to members’ log of claims. In summary, the Ministry’s responses were as follows:

• Same Job, Same Pay – Neutral
• Fair rostering practices, giving an additional week’s notice – Supported in principle.
• Safe opportunity for breaks and missed crib allowance – Partially supported in principle.
• Clinical Safety Officers in all rooms – Partially supported in principle.
• Fair access to leave – Not supported.
• Reduction of night shift for workers over 50 and after 20 yrs service – Not supported.
• Dedicated training shifts built into roster and training allowance – Not supported.
• Fair access to roles (after determined time away from position) – Not supported.
• Manual ops allowance – Not supported.
• Increase to public holiday penalty falling on a Sunday – Not supported.

Except for agreeing to provide for an additional week’s notice for rosters in the Award, the Ministry refused outright to support six of the claims, and those that were ‘partially supported in principle’ were pushed to be agreed upon outside of the Award.

Of course, the central tenet of the One Job, One Wage campaign,  equalising the base rate of Emergency Medical Dispatchers doing the exact same job, was pushed back on the NSW government pay offer. The most insulting comment was made in connection to fair access to leave, when the Ministry stated that paramedics had received an extra week of leave because – unlike Control – they were emergency responders.

This is completely unacceptable. ADHSU members are fighting for a future-proof Control Centre that will continue to retain and attract Emergency Medical Dispatchers for long and rewarding careers. As committee members mentioned, working in NSWA Control is difficult, but every ADHSU member is fighting for a career they love and for better patient outcomes. If the Ministry can’t see the importance of Control as part of the Emergency response, then members will do everything in their power to show just how important they are.

All ADHSU Control members are invited to attend a zoom meeting 1400 TOMORROW, Wednesday 5 June to discuss an appropriate response to the Ministry’s comments and lack of support. A link will be sent via text.