Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
One in five Saint John NT paramedics left the ambulance
service in twenty three twenty four, more than double the
attrition rate of the next Tires jurisdiction in the Act.
That is, according to a report in the nt News.
Now Paramedics, speaking on the condition of remaining anonymous, have
told the paper this was due to a toxic workplace,
(00:23):
as well as distrust between senior management and Cruz, the
trauma of experiencing daily violence and facilities which they've told
the paper are beyond a joke. Now joining me on
the line is the United Workers' Union NTI secretary Erina Early.
Good morning, Erina, morning, Katie. Now Erina. From the union's perspective,
(00:45):
have we seen one in five paramedics leave the service
in that twenty three to twenty four financial year.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Absolutely so. These are the figures from I believe it's
from the national charity organizations where they need to submit
their staff details, financials, et cetera.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
And so, Erina, why are the numbers, you know, looking
so grim from an attrition rate perspective. From the union's perspective, well.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Are the similar cating to what the Anti News has
reported from the paramedics that they spoke to. Big issues
are the toxic workplace. The issues are they that trust
from management and executive. They feel they're not valued and
respected by management. They're just seen as a number, just
(01:43):
go out and you know, pick up patients, no debriefings,
et cetera. Not being addressed their fatigue management also too,
they're very concerned about the high rate of violence that
they have to experience on a regular basis. Also to
their workplace ratual at the stations where they're located, have
(02:06):
not got the resources that some of them are absolutely appalling, Katie.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
Now in terms of I mean Saint John management, they've
told the paper that the high rates due to the
unique challenges that the Northern Territory presents, including the highest
per capita demand, a smaller workforce, and many paramedics leaving
the Northern Territory to return home. Do you think that
their factors as well well.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
I don't think they play a major part of Saint
John are stating Haiti. I think they kind of hide
behind that a little bit. We know when members when
members leave the NT, they usually advise the union why
they're leaving, and the majority say is because of Saint John.
The toxic workplace, et cetera. And the violence. So, and
(02:54):
I think I may have mentioned this previously to yourself
and territorians, is when there was an aspect that the
government were considering about the contract with Saint John is
we had twenty eight paramedics who had already left within
forty eight hours said they would come back to the
(03:15):
NT if it wasn't Saint John. And that's huge.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
So what exactly is it about Sin John that they're concerned.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
With, Well, the issues they have, they feel that there
is no accountability for Saint John except they they do
what they want when they are called in or the
reviews being done or the contracts being reviewed, et cetera.
Saint John are very well behaved. But what happens is
(03:43):
when all of that goes, they just go back to
their normal ways of doing things. So it's basically their
their way or the highway is You've got paramedics are
reporting about fatigue, that being exhausted, work health and safety issues,
but instead of Saint John embracing them and trying to
find out what is actually going on, these paramedics are
(04:06):
being disciplined. Katie Or according to a meeting saying you're
reporting too many work work, health and safety issues. Stop it.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Erin, Can I get a bit of background in terms
of the percentage of the workforce that are members of
the union, like the percentage of paramedics. What is the percentage.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
It's basically about ninety six percent are union members.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
So essentially, you guys do represent a huge portion of
the workforce.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
Absolutely, we do, yes, and is.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
The large portion of the workforce saying that this is
the biggest reason why they're leaving.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Absolutely, they are. And this goes back to when they
put that vote of no confidence in Katie in late
December last year. That voted no confidence is still alive
vote of no confidence because they believe that nothing has changed.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
Erin, can I ask how big an impact as well?
Does you know the going to work and being assaulted.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Hats it does have a real impact, Katie, because they
don't know what's going to happen to them because they're
in a situation where they're there to care for the
patient and either they're attacked because people are scared or
it's just the way that people react to being treated.
(05:29):
They have other people then come and go around the
ambulance as well, so are paramedics are trapped inside there.
We've had paramedics attacked on their way home, etc. So
it is a real risk for them that they deal
with every day. But also to to Saint John's credit,
Saint John do deal that quite well with the paramedics
(05:54):
who actually are assaulted. Eron it.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Where to from here from the union's perspective, if we
are going to catch up with Saint John a little
later this morning, but where to from here? From your perspective?
What needs to be fixed? From the union's point.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Of view, So really from our members, from our paramedics,
patient transport and our comms members, you'll work to Saint John, Katie.
They actually want to see real change. The only way
they're going to get real change is if the executive
of Saint John are basically replaced and they bring.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
In new people. It's a big call.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
It is a really big call, Katie. But the thing
is they've called for it many times and never gets done,
and the toxic culture just remains. It's been going for
decades unfortunately.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Well, Erina, as I said, we're going to catch up
with Sint John just after ten o'clock this morning, So
I'll put that to them I really appreciate your time
this morning, as always, have a great day.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Thank you, Katie, thank you, thank you.
One in five Saint John NT paramedics left the ambulance
service in twenty three twenty four, more than double the
attrition rate of the next Tires jurisdiction in the Act.
That is, according to a report in the nt News.
Now Paramedics, speaking on the condition of remaining anonymous, have
told the paper this was due to a toxic workplace,
(00:23):
as well as distrust between senior management and Cruz, the
trauma of experiencing daily violence and facilities which they've told
the paper are beyond a joke. Now joining me on
the line is the United Workers' Union NTI secretary Erina Early.
Good morning, Erina, morning, Katie. Now Erina. From the union's perspective,
(00:45):
have we seen one in five paramedics leave the service
in that twenty three to twenty four financial year.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Absolutely so. These are the figures from I believe it's
from the national charity organizations where they need to submit
their staff details, financials, et cetera.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
And so, Erina, why are the numbers, you know, looking
so grim from an attrition rate perspective. From the union's perspective, well.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Are the similar cating to what the Anti News has
reported from the paramedics that they spoke to. Big issues
are the toxic workplace. The issues are they that trust
from management and executive. They feel they're not valued and
respected by management. They're just seen as a number, just
(01:43):
go out and you know, pick up patients, no debriefings,
et cetera. Not being addressed their fatigue management also too,
they're very concerned about the high rate of violence that
they have to experience on a regular basis. Also to
their workplace ratual at the stations where they're located, have
(02:06):
not got the resources that some of them are absolutely appalling, Katie.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
Now in terms of I mean Saint John management, they've
told the paper that the high rates due to the
unique challenges that the Northern Territory presents, including the highest
per capita demand, a smaller workforce, and many paramedics leaving
the Northern Territory to return home. Do you think that
their factors as well well.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
I don't think they play a major part of Saint
John are stating Haiti. I think they kind of hide
behind that a little bit. We know when members when
members leave the NT, they usually advise the union why
they're leaving, and the majority say is because of Saint John.
The toxic workplace, et cetera. And the violence. So, and
(02:54):
I think I may have mentioned this previously to yourself
and territorians, is when there was an aspect that the
government were considering about the contract with Saint John is
we had twenty eight paramedics who had already left within
forty eight hours said they would come back to the
(03:15):
NT if it wasn't Saint John. And that's huge.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
So what exactly is it about Sin John that they're concerned.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
With, Well, the issues they have, they feel that there
is no accountability for Saint John except they they do
what they want when they are called in or the
reviews being done or the contracts being reviewed, et cetera.
Saint John are very well behaved. But what happens is
(03:43):
when all of that goes, they just go back to
their normal ways of doing things. So it's basically their
their way or the highway is You've got paramedics are
reporting about fatigue, that being exhausted, work health and safety issues,
but instead of Saint John embracing them and trying to
find out what is actually going on, these paramedics are
(04:06):
being disciplined. Katie Or according to a meeting saying you're
reporting too many work work, health and safety issues. Stop it.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Erin, Can I get a bit of background in terms
of the percentage of the workforce that are members of
the union, like the percentage of paramedics. What is the percentage.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
It's basically about ninety six percent are union members.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
So essentially, you guys do represent a huge portion of
the workforce.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
Absolutely, we do, yes, and is.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
The large portion of the workforce saying that this is
the biggest reason why they're leaving.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Absolutely, they are. And this goes back to when they
put that vote of no confidence in Katie in late
December last year. That voted no confidence is still alive
vote of no confidence because they believe that nothing has changed.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
Erin, can I ask how big an impact as well?
Does you know the going to work and being assaulted.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Hats it does have a real impact, Katie, because they
don't know what's going to happen to them because they're
in a situation where they're there to care for the
patient and either they're attacked because people are scared or
it's just the way that people react to being treated.
(05:29):
They have other people then come and go around the
ambulance as well, so are paramedics are trapped inside there.
We've had paramedics attacked on their way home, etc. So
it is a real risk for them that they deal
with every day. But also to to Saint John's credit,
Saint John do deal that quite well with the paramedics
(05:54):
who actually are assaulted. Eron it.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Where to from here from the union's perspective, if we
are going to catch up with Saint John a little
later this morning, but where to from here? From your perspective?
What needs to be fixed? From the union's point.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Of view, So really from our members, from our paramedics,
patient transport and our comms members, you'll work to Saint John, Katie.
They actually want to see real change. The only way
they're going to get real change is if the executive
of Saint John are basically replaced and they bring.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
In new people. It's a big call.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
It is a really big call, Katie. But the thing
is they've called for it many times and never gets done,
and the toxic culture just remains. It's been going for
decades unfortunately.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Well, Erina, as I said, we're going to catch up
with Sint John just after ten o'clock this morning, So
I'll put that to them I really appreciate your time
this morning, as always, have a great day.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Thank you, Katie, thank you, thank you.
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