There are currently two streams of bargaining underway at Ambulance Victoria.
- Stream One – Facilitated: Involves former Fair Work Commissioner Julius Roe and focuses on complex or higher-cost claims.
- Stream Two – Non-Facilitated: Covers lower-cost claims, though items can move between streams as needed.
During Tuesday 3 June Stream One bargaining, parties continued to discuss the major issue of progression through the AVMA salary structure. Wages are regressing at Ambulance Victoria. That needs to stop.
During bargaining, AV expressed that the service is under tight Government Wages Policy but that the service is open to training, development, and exploring alternative funding through “Pillar 3”.
Pillar 3 includes, “targeted wage increases to a specific and identifiable cohort of workforce who have historically been underpaid because of gender (for example, through reclassification of a particular feminised role)”.
UWU welcomed a discussion on the utilisation of Pillar 3 and advised that UWU had issued a Freedom of Information request for de-identified gender pay gap data in June 2024 to help address inequality through bargaining. AV bargaining reps were strangely unaware of the request but promised to investigate it.
12 Days Reproductive Health Leave was discussed, with UWU advising the claim is an equity-based claim to support employees dealing with endometriosis, PCOS, menopause, and other reproductive health issues. AV flagged it as a cost issue but committed to looking into the claim further. UWU argued that the claim clearly fits within Pillar 3 for gender equity reforms.
NAIDOC & Ceremonial Leave were also discussed, but AV stated that they were following government policy and will not provide additional leave for First Nations employees. AV also noted that they do not support Voluntary Emergency Management Activities Leave at this time.
The next Stream Two meeting is Tuesday 20 June 2025. Parties will be discussing the following claims:
- Intensive Screen Duties
- Unsociable Shift Penalty
- Meal Break
