National

Paramedics back SA government wage offer

By AAP Newswire

Jul 24, 2022

A backdated pay deal has been sealed with South Australian paramedics. — South Australia's ambulance workers have reached a pay deal with the state government. -AAP Image

South Australian ambulance workers will get a 10 per cent pay rise after endorsing a state government wage deal.

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The Labor administration says 97 per cent of SA ambulance employees backed its offer to lift wages by 2.5 per cent per year, backdated to December 2018.

The deal also includes reforms to rosters, afternoon shift arrangements and allowances.

Industrial Relations and Public Sector Minister Kyam Maher said the payrise couldn't come at a better time for paramedics and other SA Ambulance staff.

"Settling this agreement so quickly shows the Malinauskas government's commitment to bargaining in good faith to reach an outcome for the tireless paramedics who keep South Australia safe," he said in a statement on Sunday.

Health Minister Chris Picton said it will be the first pay rise ambulance workers had received in four years, including the entire term of the previous government and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was the longest gap between pay increases for any public sector workforce, he added.

"After what was undoubtably an appalling situation that saw SA's ambos not receive a pay rise for over four years, (it) has finally been fixed," he said.

"We made a commitment to the future of our ambulance service and we have delivered a crucial pay rise to ambos within months of being sworn in."