LHMU - UNION ACTIVE

The leaked email from Ambulance Victoria’s operations manager to CEO Greg Sassella contains the staggering admission that “the advice we are getting indicates that we probably have to concede the 10 hours eventually.”

The email from the former Operations Manager Keith Young on Friday 24 April also implicates Health Minister Daniel Andrews.

Young refers to his discussion with the Minister’s ambulance adviser Maria Pereira.

“Have spoken with Maria … [she is] nervous about the 10 hour break issue and that we probably can’t hold the line of [sic] this … particularly if the advice we are getting indicates we probably have to concede the 10 hours eventually.”  

Ambulance Employees Australia State Secretary Steve McGhie described the revelations as staggering.

“This email blows out of the water any further objections to proper breaks for paramedics to combat on-the-job fatigue.”

“Paramedics will be shocked and disgusted to learn that this government has been ignoring its own advice that 10 hour breaks are justified.

“Every day they are forced to make life and death decisions in a fatigued state.”

“Just last week another paramedic nearly died after he fell asleep driving.  He wrote off his car while driving home after a 14 hour night shift,” said Mr McGhie.

“It is quite outrageous that paramedics have had to take industrial action to achieve something the government’s own advisers are saying is justified and necessary.”  

“It is time the Health Minister and Premier Brumby stopped playing games with the lives of Victorian paramedics and the lives of Victorian patients and start negotiating in good faith.”

 The email was from Ambulance Victoria’s now deceased operations manager Keith Young. It was written just days before he was due to appear on the SBS Insight program with AEA State Secretary Steve McGhie. The 28 April episode was on sleep and fatigue and had a special focus on Victorian paramedics.

A copy of the email was anonymously sent to Ambulance Employees Australia.

Only Victorian and Western Australian paramedics still have eight hour minimum breaks.

The revelations come as paramedics on Friday began an escalating campaign of industrial action which could result in the first ambulance strike in 36 years later this week.

Currently paramedics are defying Ambulance Victoria’s policy of eight hour rest breaks between shifts and are taking enforced 10-hour rest breaks. This ensures they are properly rested and that any risk to the Victorian community from fatigued paramedics is reduced.

It is the responsibility of Ambulance Victoria to ensure there is ambulance coverage for the additional two hours.

Paramedics are also defying Ambulance Victoria’s media ban and providing briefings to journalists about working conditions and their campaign for a safer ambulance service.