Ambulance Victoria must end its "protracted" negotiation with the paramedics' union and resolve their dispute over working conditions, the state's premier has urged.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Paramedics in the state have engaged in five months of industrial action as they continue to call for a new enterprise agreement, which they have been negotiating for 18 months.
Premier Jacinta Allan on Friday said she was concerned about the "protracted" dispute between management and paramedics and the situation was not sustainable.
"We do need to see better, harmonious relationships," she told reporters.
"It's important that the Ambulance Victoria is focused on the hard work of paramedics, not on these ongoing relationship challenges."
Her comments follow a vote of no confidence by the ambulance union earlier on Friday, in which 97.8 per cent of members endorsed a call to sack Ambulance Victoria's current executive.
About 4200 members supported the move, which called for Minister for Ambulance Services Mary-Anne Thomas to appoint new management.
Responding to the vote, Ambulance Victoria's chief executive Jane Miller said the organisation acknowledged the result and was "committed to rebuilding the trust of the workforce".
"Our people, along with the patients they care for, are our absolute priority," she said in a statement.
"We are negotiating in good faith... to deliver an enterprise agreement which is fair for all and acknowledges the significant value of our people."
Union secretary Danny Hill said the no-confidence vote was a "massive wake-up call" to both the Ambulance Victoria board and the Victorian government.
He told AAP paramedics were being "sent out like robots, just to continue working hours and hours past the end of their shift".
"The biggest factors crippling the ambulance service and our members, are hospital ramping and call-taking accuracy," he said.
"(Ambulance Victoria's) response is always 'that's out of our control'.
"The workforce is sick of hearing that."
On the same day, about 150 members attended a rally outside Ms Thomas' office to raise awareness of the ongoing strikes, the union said.
Ms Thomas' office has been contacted for comment.
Australian Associated Press
