Paramedics consider further action as pay talks break down
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The Ambulance Employees Australia Union says negotiations with the Qld Govt broke down yesterday. (ABC TV-file image)
The union representing ambulance workers says paramedics are being shortchanged by the Queensland Government's wage offer.
Ambulance Employees Australia Union (AEAU) spokesman Jason Dutton says negotiations broke down yesterday because the State Government refuses to budge on its offer of a 3.25 per cent pay increase.
Mr Dutton says workers want a 6 per cent increase each year for three years.
"If we go back for the last 12 or 18 months, we've seen other health professionals in Queensland get pay rises in the vicinity of 30 per cent," he said.
"The claim that we're asking for at the moment has been delivered to other health professionals.
"More and more of our skills are life and death decisions and certainly paramedics deserve to be paid for those appropriately."
Mr Dutton says there is already a state-wide ban on administrative duties and patient transfers by paramedics from hospitals and other options are under consideration.
"There has been that warning and certainly we've given a very strong indication to the Government and the Queensland Ambulance Service that we're absolutely resolved and our members are absolutely resolved that a better offer must be coming forward before we will stop that action," he said.
"We're certainly looking forward to Government heeding that warning."
