ABOUT
AMBULANCE PROFESSIONALS FIRST IS THE NETWORK WITHIN FIRST UNION REPRESENTING AROUND 1000 AMBULANCE PROFESSIONALS.
We offer full legal support on employment matters, advocacy, and a voice for Ambulance Professionals.
Ambulance Professionals First is a strong and respected union of Ambulance Professionals. Our National Ambulance Coordinator and local organisers in each region are supported by four full-time lawyers, a campaign team and research department. We also have specialist lawyers that we contract work for ACC matters and non-employment law. We have an established working relationship with both St John Ambulance and Wellington Free Ambulance and have negotiated management and operational Collective Agreements with them in which we protect and build on the terms and conditions of employment.
We provide regular email communications to all members. We also have a strong delegate structure and use digital surveys so that the information flows both ways, and we can stay informed of what really matters to members. Our organisers and delegates have regular meetings with management to ensure that any workplace issues are raised and resolved as they arise.
We keep strong International relationships including membership of the National Council of Ambulance Unions in Australia, which we participate in regular telephone conferences and annual meetings. We are also the sole distributor and contributors for New Zealand of Ambulance Active Magazine.
By joining Ambulance Professionals First you empower yourself and your fellow workers.
STUDENTS & VOLUNTEERS
We offer no cost Student and Volunteer Membership for Bachelor of Science – Paramedicine students.
Many of the issues and challenges Ambulance Professional face either affect you now, or could do in the future.
We realise that because there are limited ambulance providers in New Zealand that speaking up about issues can be daunting. We can provide a strong, professional voice for students and volunteers, where necessary.
APF STUDENT VOLUNTEER FORM
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YOUR RIGHTS
If there is a hazard in your workplace you have the following rights: • The right to refuse unsafe work Contact Worksafe on 0800 030 040 or visit the Worksafe website Everyone has the right to decent and productive work, in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity. Unions ensure that, as a worker, your voice is heard, your views are respected and your rights under the law are upheld. • Employees have the right to decide whether to join a union and, if so, which union. It is illegal for an employer (or anyone else) to put unreasonable pressure on an employee to not join a union. • Once employees have joined a union, employers must, if asked, enter into bargaining for a collective agreement with that union. • Unions exist for workers to support each other so that they don’t have to face problems on their own. When workers act together they have strength and safety in numbers and have a better chance of getting what they need at work and beyond. • Unions are democratically run by their members. Union members elect union representatives (delegates) from workplaces, and make decisions on things like how the union is run, and what to focus on when negotiating with the employer. Contact FIRST Union on 0800 863 477 or visit the FIRST Union website Public comments (Section 1b of Employment Relations Act 2000) 14 Recognition of employees’ right to make public comments (1) Employers must respect and recognise the right of their employees to comment publicly and engage in public debate on matters within their expertise and experience as employees. (2) However, this clause applies subject to clauses 15 to 17. Before an employee exercises the right specified in clause 14(1) in relation to the operations of his or her employer, the employee must first— (a) raise the matter with his or her employer; and (b) provide a reasonable time for his or her employer to respond. If the employee is dissatisfied with his or her employer’s response or there is no response from his or her employer, the employee may exercise the right specified in clause 14(1) if the employee makes it clear that he or she is— (a) speaking in a personal capacity; or (b) speaking on behalf of a union with its authority to do so. 17 Confidentiality When exercising the right specified in clause 14(1), an employee must not breach patient confidentiality or professional confidentiality. 18 Rights of union not affected To avoid doubt, clauses 14 to 16 do not prevent a union from making public comments or engaging in public debate on any matter relating to the public health sector.
• The right to organise workers around the issue and take it up with the boss
• The right to ask a trained health & safety rep to take enforcement steps
• The right to contact a Worksafe Inspector
• The right to go on strike in some circumstances
15 Employee must first raise matter with employer
16 When employee may make public comments about employer’s operations
CONTACT
EMAIL: ambulance@firstunion.org.nz
PHONE: 0800 TO FIRST (0800 863 477)
OFFICE: 120 Church Street, Onehunga, Auckland 1061
POST: Private Bag 92904, Onehunga, Auckland 1643
SOCIAL: Facebook
