TECHNICIAN TO PARAMEDIC TRAINING CLARIFICATION

Dear member,

As stated in previous UNISON update……… UNISON fully encourages AEMT members to undergo the paramedic training but acknowledges that some members can’t and simply will not apply, full support will be given to these members over the next 5 years………..

UNISON would like to clarify the following, there are currently 70 Technician to Paramedic training places available in 2013/14, 46 of these will start in May.

UNISON would like to clarify that any member who is unsuccessful in either the OSCE assessments or any part of the training course will not lose their current Technician position, they will return back to their original line at their base station.

Band 5 Technicians are not on pay protection and will continue to be employed throughout the full 5 year workforce plan with the aim of converting as many willing technicians to paramedics as possible.

Unfortunately other trade unions are stating that unsuccessful technicians may drop down to band 3, this is not the case, and technicians are not on protection because their role is not at risk.