NAMBUCCA Heads paramedic Steve Fraser said the vital meeting between NSW paramedics and the NSW Premier Mike Baird to discuss cuts to their working conditions went “better than expected”.
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Steve, who is also a Health Services Union (HSU) ambulance councillor, together with colleagues, spoke to Mr Baird last Wednesday about the cuts, which they say leaves them worse off than police and other emergency services workers.
“The Premier met and spoke with us at length – he said he needed to take a ‘whole of Government’ approach to the issue but he committed to working to achieve “a much more generous scheme”.
“He asked us to give him 90 days and also to stop the chalk campaign we have been running. He gave us a good hearing and sounded genuine, however we told him that, with respect, we would continue the campaign, although we are happy to change the tone.”
He said ambulances would now carry the message that “Mike Baird will fix it (the problem) in 86 days” (Monday) … counting down to the deadline.
“We want to keep him reminded of his commitment, because it is a big one. We are hopeful but it is not over yet.”
As well as the amended vehicle chalking campaign, NSW paramedics will step up their push for signatures on their petition, which will be in local businesses throughout the Nambucca Valley (further details ASAP).
Petitions will also be at local ambulance stations as well as in vehicles.
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