Paramedics to take industrial action after breakdown in pay negotiations

Ambulance Union secretary Danny Hill says paramedics will walk off the job over a breakdown in pay negotiations with the state government.

He says he’s hearing from workers the job is unsustainable with their work-life balance with Victorians are calling up for non-emergencies and ramping a huge issue.

“Paramedics are leaving the job after about five years, and right now, more than half the workforce is about five years on the job,” he told Jacqui Felgate.

Press PLAY to hear the issues paramedics are facing

He also says paramedics are being forced to complete hours of overtime as they wait for their patients to be triaged.

“There’s always going to be overtime, but this isn’t just for emergencies, this is to wait in a hospital corridor, doing hospital tasks,” he said.