The State Government has sought to resolve the long running enterprise bargaining negotiations with the ambulance union by seeking an arbitrated resolution from the SA Employment Tribunal.
Enterprise bargaining negotiations with the Ambulance Employees Association of SA (AEA) commenced in May 2019, but despite a series of meetings and discussions over close to three years, the Government and the AEA have been unable to reach an agreement.
Treasurer Rob Lucas said the Government’s only option was to lodge an application with the Tribunal for an arbitration.
“Over the last four years, the Government has negotiated in good faith with South Australia’s hardworking public sector employees, including doctors, nurses, teachers, police officers, public transport workers, salaried employees and trades to arrive at new enterprise agreements which are fair for both parties,” Mr Lucas said.
“The Government’s approach to the negotiations with the AEA has been no different to other unions.
“Rather than focusing on enterprise bargaining, the AEA’s Executive approved in September 2021 a political advertising campaign all the way up until the State Election, so we have been left with no choice other than to lodge this application.
“The Marshall Government has today announced 51 FTE paramedics to expand the SA Ambulance Service’s capacity to respond to increasing demand, further boosting the state’s ambulance officers to the highest number ever employed in South Australia.
“This builds on the significant investment already put into the South Australian Ambulance Service (SAAS), whose budget this year has increased by $28 million compared to Labor’s last budget, with South Australia spending more per capita on our ambulance services than any other mainland state or territory, according to the recent Productivity Commission report on government services.
“It comes in addition to the 74 FTE ambulance officers announced in the current State Budget, as well as a doubling of the paramedic intake last year and in 2022.
“This is now a matter for the South Australian Employment Tribunal to consider as the independent umpire.”