Victoria's long-running ambulance pay dispute has just ticked over into its third year, with little sign of any deal soon.
Hundreds of paramedics rallied in Melbourne on Friday before marching through city streets to the state government offices.
Ambulance Employees Association state secretary Steve McGhie told the rally Victorian paramedics were paid up to $20,000 a year less than counterparts in other states.
"All we're asking for is that you be recognised like paramedics in other states and be paid the same, or similar, or better," he said.
He said it was disingenuous for the government to claim the offer was for 12 per cent over three years, because paramedics had not had a pay rise since 2011.
But Health Minister David Davis said no other industry received massive pay rises, and the union needed to look at its members' interests.
"Paramedics deserve a pay rise. Ambulance Victoria wants to pay a pay rise. The government supports that pay rise," Mr Davis told reporters.
"The only people standing in the way of paramedics getting a very significant pay rise is the hard-line, left-wing ambulance union."
Mr McGhie said Fair Work Australia had given the union the green light to impose 27 more forms of industrial action, including taking media out with crews, recording data on paper and not electronically, and other administrative bans.
Victorian opposition health spokesman Gavin Jennings told reporters that should Labor win the November 29 election, the matter would be sent to Fair Work Australia to determine a fair pay outcome.
Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten told the rally the state government was negligent in letting an industrial dispute drag on for two years.
"If you are able to go one day longer than the Napthine government, you will resolve this in your favour," he said.
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