1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:03,720 Speaker 1: One in five Saint John NT paramedics left the ambulance 2 00:00:03,760 --> 00:00:06,800 Speaker 1: service in twenty three twenty four, more than double the 3 00:00:06,840 --> 00:00:10,799 Speaker 1: attrition rate of the next Tires jurisdiction in the Act. 4 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:14,200 Speaker 1: That is, according to a report in the nt News. 5 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:19,079 Speaker 1: Now Paramedics, speaking on the condition of remaining anonymous, have 6 00:00:19,239 --> 00:00:22,480 Speaker 1: told the paper this was due to a toxic workplace, 7 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:27,040 Speaker 1: as well as distrust between senior management and Cruz, the 8 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:32,160 Speaker 1: trauma of experiencing daily violence and facilities which they've told 9 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:35,000 Speaker 1: the paper are beyond a joke. Now joining me on 10 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:39,680 Speaker 1: the line is the United Workers' Union NTI secretary Erina Early. 11 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:45,520 Speaker 1: Good morning, Erina, morning, Katie. Now Erina. From the union's perspective, 12 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:48,760 Speaker 1: have we seen one in five paramedics leave the service 13 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:51,120 Speaker 1: in that twenty three to twenty four financial year. 14 00:00:52,479 --> 00:00:57,640 Speaker 2: Absolutely so. These are the figures from I believe it's 15 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:03,640 Speaker 2: from the national charity organizations where they need to submit 16 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 2: their staff details, financials, et cetera. 17 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:14,040 Speaker 1: And so, Erina, why are the numbers, you know, looking 18 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:21,200 Speaker 1: so grim from an attrition rate perspective. From the union's perspective, well. 19 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:25,240 Speaker 2: Are the similar cating to what the Anti News has 20 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:30,240 Speaker 2: reported from the paramedics that they spoke to. Big issues 21 00:01:30,319 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 2: are the toxic workplace. The issues are they that trust 22 00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:39,720 Speaker 2: from management and executive. They feel they're not valued and 23 00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:43,520 Speaker 2: respected by management. They're just seen as a number, just 24 00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:47,960 Speaker 2: go out and you know, pick up patients, no debriefings, 25 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 2: et cetera. Not being addressed their fatigue management also too, 26 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:56,120 Speaker 2: they're very concerned about the high rate of violence that 27 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 2: they have to experience on a regular basis. Also to 28 00:02:00,720 --> 00:02:06,680 Speaker 2: their workplace ratual at the stations where they're located, have 29 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:11,320 Speaker 2: not got the resources that some of them are absolutely appalling, Katie. 30 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 1: Now in terms of I mean Saint John management, they've 31 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:17,120 Speaker 1: told the paper that the high rates due to the 32 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:21,000 Speaker 1: unique challenges that the Northern Territory presents, including the highest 33 00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:25,360 Speaker 1: per capita demand, a smaller workforce, and many paramedics leaving 34 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:28,880 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory to return home. Do you think that 35 00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:31,920 Speaker 1: their factors as well well. 36 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:34,200 Speaker 2: I don't think they play a major part of Saint 37 00:02:34,320 --> 00:02:37,320 Speaker 2: John are stating Haiti. I think they kind of hide 38 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 2: behind that a little bit. We know when members when 39 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 2: members leave the NT, they usually advise the union why 40 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:49,800 Speaker 2: they're leaving, and the majority say is because of Saint John. 41 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 2: The toxic workplace, et cetera. And the violence. So, and 42 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:57,560 Speaker 2: I think I may have mentioned this previously to yourself 43 00:02:57,680 --> 00:03:02,519 Speaker 2: and territorians, is when there was an aspect that the 44 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:08,880 Speaker 2: government were considering about the contract with Saint John is 45 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:12,200 Speaker 2: we had twenty eight paramedics who had already left within 46 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:15,720 Speaker 2: forty eight hours said they would come back to the 47 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 2: NT if it wasn't Saint John. And that's huge. 48 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:24,080 Speaker 1: So what exactly is it about Sin John that they're concerned. 49 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 2: With, Well, the issues they have, they feel that there 50 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:31,400 Speaker 2: is no accountability for Saint John except they they do 51 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:34,360 Speaker 2: what they want when they are called in or the 52 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 2: reviews being done or the contracts being reviewed, et cetera. 53 00:03:39,160 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 2: Saint John are very well behaved. But what happens is 54 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:46,120 Speaker 2: when all of that goes, they just go back to 55 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:49,960 Speaker 2: their normal ways of doing things. So it's basically their 56 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 2: their way or the highway is You've got paramedics are 57 00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:59,480 Speaker 2: reporting about fatigue, that being exhausted, work health and safety issues, 58 00:03:59,720 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 2: but instead of Saint John embracing them and trying to 59 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:06,600 Speaker 2: find out what is actually going on, these paramedics are 60 00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 2: being disciplined. Katie Or according to a meeting saying you're 61 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 2: reporting too many work work, health and safety issues. Stop it. 62 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:17,279 Speaker 1: Erin, Can I get a bit of background in terms 63 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:20,400 Speaker 1: of the percentage of the workforce that are members of 64 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:24,200 Speaker 1: the union, like the percentage of paramedics. What is the percentage. 65 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:27,920 Speaker 2: It's basically about ninety six percent are union members. 66 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:32,599 Speaker 1: So essentially, you guys do represent a huge portion of 67 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:33,360 Speaker 1: the workforce. 68 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:36,560 Speaker 2: Absolutely, we do, yes, and is. 69 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:40,400 Speaker 1: The large portion of the workforce saying that this is 70 00:04:40,480 --> 00:04:42,239 Speaker 1: the biggest reason why they're leaving. 71 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:46,240 Speaker 2: Absolutely, they are. And this goes back to when they 72 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:49,599 Speaker 2: put that vote of no confidence in Katie in late 73 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:54,120 Speaker 2: December last year. That voted no confidence is still alive 74 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:58,640 Speaker 2: vote of no confidence because they believe that nothing has changed. 75 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:02,720 Speaker 1: Erin, can I ask how big an impact as well? 76 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:07,279 Speaker 1: Does you know the going to work and being assaulted. 77 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 2: Hats it does have a real impact, Katie, because they 78 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:16,000 Speaker 2: don't know what's going to happen to them because they're 79 00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:19,400 Speaker 2: in a situation where they're there to care for the 80 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:24,760 Speaker 2: patient and either they're attacked because people are scared or 81 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:28,960 Speaker 2: it's just the way that people react to being treated. 82 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:33,039 Speaker 2: They have other people then come and go around the 83 00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:37,920 Speaker 2: ambulance as well, so are paramedics are trapped inside there. 84 00:05:38,279 --> 00:05:43,279 Speaker 2: We've had paramedics attacked on their way home, etc. So 85 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:45,760 Speaker 2: it is a real risk for them that they deal 86 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:49,000 Speaker 2: with every day. But also to to Saint John's credit, 87 00:05:49,080 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 2: Saint John do deal that quite well with the paramedics 88 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:56,920 Speaker 2: who actually are assaulted. Eron it. 89 00:05:57,080 --> 00:06:00,320 Speaker 1: Where to from here from the union's perspective, if we 90 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:02,200 Speaker 1: are going to catch up with Saint John a little 91 00:06:02,320 --> 00:06:05,599 Speaker 1: later this morning, but where to from here? From your perspective? 92 00:06:05,680 --> 00:06:09,200 Speaker 1: What needs to be fixed? From the union's point. 93 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:13,480 Speaker 2: Of view, So really from our members, from our paramedics, 94 00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:18,360 Speaker 2: patient transport and our comms members, you'll work to Saint John, Katie. 95 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:21,640 Speaker 2: They actually want to see real change. The only way 96 00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:25,240 Speaker 2: they're going to get real change is if the executive 97 00:06:25,360 --> 00:06:29,599 Speaker 2: of Saint John are basically replaced and they bring. 98 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:31,359 Speaker 1: In new people. It's a big call. 99 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 2: It is a really big call, Katie. But the thing 100 00:06:34,839 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 2: is they've called for it many times and never gets done, 101 00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:43,120 Speaker 2: and the toxic culture just remains. It's been going for 102 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:44,520 Speaker 2: decades unfortunately. 103 00:06:44,839 --> 00:06:46,719 Speaker 1: Well, Erina, as I said, we're going to catch up 104 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:49,000 Speaker 1: with Sint John just after ten o'clock this morning, So 105 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:51,920 Speaker 1: I'll put that to them I really appreciate your time 106 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:53,880 Speaker 1: this morning, as always, have a great day. 107 00:06:54,800 --> 00:06:56,680 Speaker 2: Thank you, Katie, thank you, thank you.