Illawarra paramedics plan to vote down proposed changes to their death and disability cover which one senior officer has labelled as ‘‘insulting and disgraceful’’.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Health Services Union (HSU) Illawarra sub-branch vice-president Anton Jamsek said a controversial decision by NSW Ambulance to cut insurance coverage had angered many paramedics.
A NSW Ambulance spokesman said the Death and Disability Award was no longer financially sustainable in its current form due to an ‘‘unprecedented increase’’ in group life insurance premiums.
It has put forward two new options to scheme members, which they will be able to vote on until September 21.
HSU sub-branch meetings have been held around NSW on the matter, including in Wollongong last week where Mr Jamsek said paramedics present unanimously condemned both options.
‘‘We look after the community, but who’s going to look after us?’’ Mr Jamsek said.
‘‘Both of the new options are insulting and disgraceful and fall far short of what’s in place to protect other emergency service staff – police and firefighters.’’
Mr Jamsek said under the current death and disability scheme introduced in 2008, paramedics contributed 1.8per cent of their base salary and the NSW Government contributed 3.6per cent.
He said paramedics were now being asked to choose between a scheme which would not include disability cover and where income protection would only last two to three years, or one where they would have to find their own private cover.
‘‘In the first option the income benefit is only based on the base salary, may take up to 90 days to access and may only be available for two years,’’ Mr Jamsek said.
‘‘The second involves replacing the scheme with an allowance which paramedics can use to get their own cover.
‘‘But those allowances are not going to cover the sky-high premiums that paramedics will be charged due to the dangerous nature of their jobs – for instance one helicopter paramedic recently got a quote for $10,000 for an annual policy.’’ HSU Illawarra sub-branch secretary Rodney Hatton has spent many years on the job and is also anxious about proposed changes.
‘‘We’re in a job where we’re six times more likely to be injured than any other worker,’’ Mr Hatton said.
‘‘The job is just getting more dangerous – we’re dealing with people who assault us, people affected by drugs and alcohol.
‘‘There’s an increasing mental health workload and an increase in domestic violence – we need more protection, not less.’’
A NSW Ambulance spokesman said that a clause in the death and disability award specified that when the long-term cost to the government was likely to exceed 3.6per cent of salaries there would be an immediate review. With a rise in premiums, that point had been reached.
‘‘For the last 12 months, NSW Ambulance has regularly communicated with staff and their representatives regarding the D&D scheme,’’ the spokesman said.
‘‘Two options have been developed giving members the choice between a changed scheme and an option to wind up the scheme altogether.
‘‘The outcome will be determined by paramedics,’’ the spokesman said.
