The State Government welcomes an order made by the independent industrial umpire for Ambulance Employees’ Association (AEA) members to stop all ‘chalking’ of taxpayer-funded ambulances with graffiti messages and slogans.
In a judgement delivered late this afternoon, the SA Employment Tribunal said ‘chalking’ was industrial action and ‘that allowing chalking to continue will not assist resolution of the industrial dispute’ between the government and the union.
The chalking has included blatant pro-Labor political messaging and slogans.
There had been an interim order for the past week for the union to cease chalking, and today’s judgement continues that ban.
“We welcome today’s order by the independent industrial umpire for the union to stop chalking of taxpayer-funded ambulances with blatant political slogans,” Treasurer Rob Lucas said.
“We’ve said all along, they have absolutely no right to deface public property, and if they want to chalk then they should do so on their own private vehicles.”
The Tribunal found that the cost of cleaning chalked ambulance vehicles between July 2021 and January 2022 was about $84,000 – or just over $12,000 per month.
Both parties have been ordered to resume mediation before the Tribunal on a date to be advised after the election.