Australia: Paramedic staff plan to strike in New South Wales Dec. 1

The Australian Paramedics Association has called for a 12-hour industrial action in New South Wales (NSW) 07:00-19:00 Dec. 1 to demand wage increases. Paramedics will refuse to transport non-emergency patient transfers but will continue to attend to emergency cases. Participation in the action is unclear, though hundreds of workers could join the strike. Unless averted, the labor action could affect ambulance and paramedic services in the state.

Striking workers could hold protests, though organizers have not announced specific plans. Demonstrations could occur at hospitals and medical facilities, public squares, and local government buildings. While violence is unlikely, police will probably monitor gatherings as a precaution. Localized transport disruptions are possible near demonstrations, primarily if events draw sizeable turnouts, especially in Sydney.