Hundreds of Victorian triple zero operators could walk off the job as a dispute over their working conditions escalates.
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The operators’ unions say lives are at risk because the Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority refuses to agree to minimum staffing levels, leaving workers there unable to offer the service that is needed during mass-casualty events such as the 2016 thunderstorm asthma tragedy.
But the authority says the public can be confident the triple zero service is fully operational and that any industrial action will be managed without risk to the community.
The authority’s 775 call-takers, dispatchers and team leaders are the first point of contact for Victorians seeking help from police, firefighters, SES or paramedics and have voted to take protected industrial action after failing to reach a deal with their employers on a new workplace agreement.
The action could take the form of on-the-job protests though strike action could not be ruled out if an agreement continued to elude the two parties, Ambulance Employees’ Association general secretary Danny Hill confirmed on Wednesday.
While there were sticking points on pay and conditions, Mr Hill said, the main issue for the operators was staffing levels and the ability of "call-takers" to give enough attention to each call for help.
The unions say the authority wants to maintain a staffing profile based on the “quiet times” and which does not take into account the unpredictable nature of emergency work.
“The primary issue is that we want to have staffing levels in the event of a big fire, a big asthma thunder storm-type event,” Mr Hill said.
“Something like that, a terrorist incident or a flare-up of a bush fire puts enormous pressure on, there’s a sudden and unexpected increase in call volumes and we want to make sure that callers, the patients get the care that they need.”
A spokeswoman for the authority said it would ensure there would be no threat to public safety from any industrial action taken by its operators.
“Victoria’s triple zero operators care deeply about the community that they serve,” the spokeswoman said.
“The public can be confident that Victoria’s triple zero service is fully operational and continues to run as normal.
“ESTA will ensure that any industrial action does not affect public health and safety.”
“ESTA continues to bargain in good faith to reach agreement with the unions on the proposed Enterprise Agreement for our operational employees.”
