For at least the last 12 months we have been consistent with our message that the failures of the health system were systemic, not the result of Covid. Meanwhile the government, AV and others are equally as consistent in blaming Covid. In recent months we have seen some parties start to admit that there were issues pre-Covid. Then things have blown up a bit recently with the media finally starting to see through the charade.
The motive of those who have saturated the media with Covid is clearly to divert blame from the fact that they failed to recognise or respond to the numerous indicators that the system was failing in the years before Covid was a thing.
The recent attempts to deflect blame are not dissimilar to what we saw with the outcomes of the VEOHRC review into AV. On that occasion those responsible indicated that they did not know the full extent of the problem, despite the issues being well known and reflected in relevant data over many years.
In April 2019 I met one-on-one with Tony Walker for 2 hours whilst still working on road as an STM. The meeting was following a long heartfelt email where I had detailed the harm being caused to the operational workforce by the ill-thought-out restructure and ever-increasing work pressures. Unfortunately, I was forced into a position of having to meet one-on-one with the AV CEO because it was clear that the extent of the harm was not being passed on by those who were charged with being our voice. So if Covid is the cause, then why did I need to raise these concerns with the CEO eight months before we’d even heard of Covid?
Appeasing the government by silencing the workforce in pre-Covid days has caused irreparable harm to many who have dedicated their working lives to providing a service to their communities. The AEAV will continue to call out those who played a role in the façade.
This week we are calling for an independent review of the performance issues. Those who let this happen cannot be trusted to highlight and then fix the issues that they either created or ignored.
AV – SURGE MOU
Last week the AEAV was asked to sign an MOU which AV has proposed to start scaling back the use of the surge workforce. Whilst the AEAV is keen to see the back of surge and has signed the MOU, we cannot help thinking that the systemic failures have resulted in the workforce having to accept the lesser of two evils. Effectively your choice is to work with unqualified staff or work harder. AV and the DoH also tried to include a “gag order” to stop us talking about the MOU. This clause was completely unacceptable to the AEAV.
Since November 2021 we have been advocating for Rosters members who have not been recognised for their experience. After AV’s refusal to fix the issue we wrote to the Health Minister in April and the matter now sits with the Dept of Health. Rosters members have been very patient to date; however, AV and the government have been disrespectful. The AEAV is now preparing for a legal case. It is disappointing that we must take this action to get AV to treat staff equitably and respectfully.
ESTA PAYRISE
ESTA staff will see a 2.5% pay increase from the 1st of July and this will be the final pay rise for the current EBA. The union will commence surveying members soon to gauge priorities for the next EBA bargaining round to start at the end of this year.
ESTA MOU
At the last Workforce Optimisation Meeting ESTA provided a heatmap outlining the times of day ESTA find most challenging to manage call volume. The times were as follow:
Sunday – all day
Saturday 7:00 -13:00
Weekdays 8:00 – 11:00
Weeknights 21:00 – 3:00
Discussions on the new MOU covering staff until the end of January continue. The next meeting is scheduled for the 14th of July 2022.
WOMEN’S EVENT – BREAKING NEWS! ACTU PRESIDENT MICHELE O’NEIL ADDED AS GUEST SPEAKER
As many of you will be aware, the AEAV has organised an event with the aim being to provide ambulance women with an opportunity to network and to obtain training in how to deal with the unique landscape that is the ambulance sector.
We are excited to announce that ACTU President Michelle O’Neil has been locked in as a guest speaker and will join Lisa Munday, Member of WA Parliament, psychologist and paramedic.
If you have not locked in your seat yet and would like to be released from duty for the event, then you will need to contact Lauren on 0425 755 903 or Maree on 0412 672 245.
AV – RECRUITMENT PROCESS – WILL THEY EVER LEARN?
After the comments by Libby Murphy at the start of the year and the scathing outcomes of the VEOHRC review, it is staggering to find that AV has learnt nothing.
The AEAV got AV to agree to reviewing a recruitment decision however, the process of establishing a panel to review the original decision has shown how much work needs to be done to bring AV in line with best practice.
Firstly, AV attempted to put on the panel one of the unsuccessful applicants for the original position. And last week AV disclosed that the region that caused the dispute has been given the opportunity to stack the “independent” panel that will review its own decision.
After years of not being held to account for unfair recruitment practices, it seems it is going to take relentless pressure to finally bring AV into the 21st century.
The last round of discussions with NPT occurred on 28 June 2022. At this meeting, NPT presented their current response to logs of claims submitted by the unions. It is fair to report that none of the substantial claims regarding pay and conditions have been agreed to at this stage. NPT has agreed to some minor non-monetary claims. Due to leave requirements on both sides, the next negotiation meeting is scheduled for 26 July 2022.
AV – FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONAL SERVICES MERCER REVIEW
After almost 12 months of fighting to have the internal review of FTS pay banding reviewed by an external provider we finally got Mercer to review the classifications in May. Unfortunately, the blocker however is AV who have failed to provide the members with the outcomes and one Executive Director is just refusing to discuss it. More disrespectful behaviour from the AV Exec.
2021/22 TAX STATEMENTS
Tax statements were sent to members emails on Friday afternoon. If it is not in your Inbox, please check your Junk folder for an email from Tim and Jo.
DISCOUNTED TAX RETURNS FOR AEAV MEMBERS
Did you know that AEAV members can access discounted tax returns through our accounting partners AASB, who has a track record of lodging tax returns with Paramedics and other ambulance workers and offers a 10% discount to AEAV members?
For more information and to access the deal, click HERE.
JOKE OF THE WEEK
A man went to the All Stars game with two front row seat tickets. He sat down and then another man asked him if the second seat was taken. The man said “No, it was supposed to be for my wife.” The other man said “Well where is she?” The husband said, “She died two days ago.” The other man said “Oh, that’s terrible, I’m so sorry for you. Why didn’t you bring another family member?” The husband said, “Cause they’re all at the funeral.”
KEEP IN TOUCH
As always, if you have any issues, questions or queries, get in touch by leaving a message on 9287 1713 or email [email protected]
