Ambos bail up minister

Fifty ambulance officers and paramedics campaigning for more staff and better conditions bailed up Victorian health minister Daniel Andrews as he visited Geelong on September 19.

Victoria's Ambulance Employees Association is campaigning for an enterprise agreement with four essential conditions: better rosters and 10-hour rest breaks between shifts to relieve fatigue; restoring a full medical intensive care ambulance service across Melbourne; upgrading ambulance services for understaffed regional areas and a fair wage outcome to assist recruiting and retaining highly skilled paramedics.

Carrying placards with the slogan "Response time! Our ambos our lives", members chanted outside the Geelong Central Ambulance Station where Andrews was visiting on other business until he agreed to meet a delegation to hear their concerns. The Victorian government has refused to now to meet with the union.

From GLW issue 768