eBulletin

20 May 2022

AV – MICA RESOURCING

For some time there have been issues around MICA resourcing with shifts regularly dropped and large areas left without any MICA coverage. One recent high-profile tragedy only had MICA attendance by good luck rather than good management. Then over the weekend significant parts of the state again struggled to have MICA coverage.

This is not a new issue. This has been going on for years. So why is this happening? The facts behind this are clear for all to see in AV’s Annual Reports. From 2016/17 to 2020/21 the number of MICA increased by 1.1% which equals 7 people. Over the same period the total clinical staff increased by almost 18% whilst Code 1 cases increased by nearly 16%. This neglect of MICA resourcing by AV has put large portions of the state at risk of not having the resources needed to save lives. It has also put pressure on MICA paramedics to make up the shortfall to continue providing the service to their communities.

This week AV announced that it is setting up focus groups to discuss MICA service delivery. It would seem finally AV have noticed the emerging issue that has been slapping them in the face since 2017.

Surely a main topic of this conversation needs to be about how AV can better support ALS paramedics who want to become MICA. Whether that be by increasing pay for all MICA, increasing support or providing less fatiguing rosters.

AV – FTS WIN – EXTERNAL REVIEW

In mid-2021 the FTS team underwent a restructure and their roles changed. AEAV members requested a review of PD’s and pay banding but of course the smoke and mirrors review came back with no pay increase despite increased responsibilities. The members petitioned the A/CEO of AV and WON an external review of their Mercer classifications that has not happened for nearly ten years.

Well done FTS team for uniting and sticking to your guns. You can read the response from AV here.

AV – KEN LAY LETTER

In April we received a response from the AV Board to our letter calling for accountability at the Executive level of AV. Effectively we were “schooled” on ethics and integrity by the Board that oversaw one of the most damaging chapters in AV’s history. Suffice to say, we fired back with both barrels.

You can read the letter from Ken Lay and our response here.

ESTA CAPABILITY & SERVICE REVIEW PUBLISHED

Graham Ashton’s Capability and Service Review of ESTA has been published with 20 recommendations for the service (link here). The union is supportive of the review, in particular the recommendations that the ESTA Board and Advisory Committee be disbanded and replaced, and that the Victorian Government allocate ongoing funding to ESTA to employ sufficient staff.

The union is disappointed though that recommendations regarding IGEM standards are not more robust in aiming to reach a higher KPI standard than 90% of calls answered in 5 seconds and 95% of calls answered in 30 seconds.
This still means that hundreds of thousands of Victorians will not get optimal service. This is not a lottery, this is people’s lives.

ESTA MOU

Delegates and the union have been in discussion with ESTA regarding an extension of the current MOU to cover employees until January 2023. ESTA has expressed the desire to work collaboratively with union delegates to resolve short term issues at ESTA, the roll out of additional resources, and the potential for additional allowances and payments to staff. So far, ESTA has not put anything on the table for delegates to consider.

The union expects to see proposals raised by ESTA at the next meeting on Tuesday 24 May.

You can read more here.

AV – WORKSAFE INCIDENT REPORTS

The IR we submitted to WorkSafe a few weeks back re the impact of KPI’s is progressing well with WorkSafe having reached out to members to hear firsthand how they have been impacted.

In recent days we have also been in discussions with WorkSafe on another couple of matters. One being the changes to restrictions for AP12’s and another being AV’s recent move to start calling paramedics between nightshifts even though they are not on reserve.

To read more click here.

AV – COMMENCING PRACTICE – REQUEST FOR EXTERNAL MERCER REVIEW

In early 2020 the Commencing Practice team underwent a restructure. Commencing Practice team members were told there had been an internal review of their changed positions and there would be no pay increase for their increased responsibilities.

The team attempted to get the decision reviewed but AV were not forthcoming.

This week the AEAV wrote to AV requesting an external review by Mercer Australia.

You can read more here.

NPT BARGAINING

EB negotiations commenced on 10 May 2022. Our NPT members contributed to our Log of Claims and will continue their involvement throughout the process.

You can find the Log of Claims and a summary of Day 1 here.

AV – ROSTERS INCREMENTS UPDATE

The issue that was apparently all sorted according to some has now been referred to an industrial lawyer for advice by the Dept of Health. Last week the AEAV met with the Dept of Health to discuss the matter and for the Dept to get further information. They will firstly consider legal advice before making a recommendation to the Health Minister.

In our calculations some members have claims going back nearly 10 years and potentially have been underpaid in excess of $20,000 before taking into consideration OT and superannuation.

CO-POWER

AEAV is proud to announce a new initiative with Co-Power where union members can take back from huge energy corporations for the benefits of people and our planet. Cooperative power is a newly formed not-for profit for Australia’s energy sector.

The revenue generated from electricity goes to supporting Co-Power’s mission of fighting poverty, tackling the climate crisis, and supporting communities.

Last year, 100% of Co-Powers profit went toward mitigating the impact of COVID-19. This year, customer members are deciding how Co-Power will spend their revenue.

To learn more and join Co-Power, visit their webpage HERE.