www.saveourparamedics.com

http://www.saveourparamedics.com is one way the Ambulance Paramedics of BC are standing up for the equal rights of ALL Paramedics in British Columbia.

BC communities have been designated by the British Columbia Ambulance Service as Remote, Rural, Urban and Metropolitan. All four of these type of communities are in a dire situation.

Paramedics are a vital piece of every BC community. Unfortunately, the BC Ambulance service has decided that not all communities deserve equal Paramedic coverage.

If you are in a remote or rural community your service level and response times should be of concern. You and your family may be at risk. Remote and Rural communities are normally staffed by On Call Volunteers who respond to your emergency from a pager call. BC Ambulance does not want full time service models in these communities.

http://www.adventuresourcetours.com

Ambulance Strike Looming

Published Date: 2009/3/20 0:00:00Article ID : 6378
Version 1.00
By Tom Mureika

UCLUELET — B.C. paramedics appear to be facing an imminent strike at the end of this month.

The existing contract between the Canadian Union of Public Employees and the B.C. Ambulance Service will expire at the end of March, and according to Ucluelet Ambulance unit chief Joanne Trofanenko, “things do not look good.”

Several issues are at stake.

Part-time emergency-service workers receive $2 an hour to remain on call, and then once they are actually on a job they get what Trofanenko refers to as “dismal” wages when compared to emergency workers in other areas.

Gayle Ryon, Ucluelet ambulance shop steward, said the issue comes down to whether or not paramedics are considered “emergency services.”

“Right now, paramedics are considered as medical staff instead of as emergency responders and are paid accordingly.

“Even though we’re exposed to the same risks – if not greater – than emergency responders, we are paid as medical staff, which is substantially lower than the pay grade for emergency services workers,” he added. “So it all comes down to how emergency services is defined.”

Furthermore, in the event of a strike, the union may demand that part-time emergency workers become full-time employees, making an hourly wage but stationed at the ambulance centre.

Trofanenko said this is an issue because most of the part-time emergency workers have other jobs that will currently allow them to leave at a moment’s notice should an emergency arise.

“That’s essentially our partner jobs’ commitment to emergency services, to allow us to leave the instant a call comes in,” Trofanenko said. “It would seriously jeopardize our relationships with our partner jobs if we had to remain at the station full time.

Trofanenko also said staying full-time at the station is unrealistic.

“I converted my office into a bedroom, so we would have some comforts at the station. But the union won’t cover costs such as pots and pans and dishes for the station.”

Trofanenko said she has gotten around the problem by using funds given during Paramedic Appreciation Week to purchase some amenities for the station.

Ryon said the station is only equipped to sleep two people at a time, so should a strike action require the part-time workers to take on full time status there are still problems of accommodations.

Ryon also said Ucluelet relies a great deal upon out-of-town paramedics and that only half of the staff is actually local.

“You can’t make a living being an emergency worker unless you’re working full time,” added Trofanenko.

Furthermore, benefits for part-timers don’t kick in until after they have been working for six years, and even those are minimal on account of the part-time services.

“It’s been a real damper on our being able to recruit to remote, rural areas like Ucluelet,” Trofanenko said.

Should the contract expire at the end of the month, an emergency services-strike would follow.

Trofanenko said this would involve BCAS legally withdrawing their services.

But Trofanenko said her team is committed to keeping emergency services operational even in the event of a strike.

“It will be a matter of determining what emergency services are, but we can’t – in good conscience – withdraw our services when our neighbour might be in need.”

“We don’t want to leave the community without essential services,” said Ryon. “But we can’t let the employer benefit from a strike action without hurting our workers. We’re in a sticky situation where we don’t want to hurt either our community or our workers.”

Ryon said the union has just re-entered a new mediation process with the employer and is expecting a new offer by the weekend.

However, he pointed out that a recent poll of active BCAS members showed a 96 per cent show of favor for a strike action given the current status of the employer’s offer.

“At this point in time, we are anticipating a strike at the end of the month,” said Ryon. “It seems like that’s the direction things are heading.”

Ryon said since this was a provincial matter, he hoped there would be a quick reconciliation.

Trofanenko will take the matter before Ucluelet council Tuesday night to raise public awareness.

“What this matter really needs is community support,” said Ryon. “The public needs to be made aware of what’s really going on. After all, these are essential services that we’re talking about – and they should be treated as such.”

B.C. Ambulance Service did not return calls by publication.

http://www.adventuresourcetours.com

B.C. ambulance paramedics appear headed for a strike next week, and Health Minister George Abbott took the unusual step Thursday of going public to denounce their wage demands.
Abbott said the union's demand for wage parity with Vancouver Police constables represents an 87 per cent increase in total compensation over the next seven years. That figure was rejected by union president John Strohmaier, who said the union wants four to 4.5 per cent per year over seven years.
"We will commence the strike on April 1," Strohmaier said in an interview from Vancouver. "I think there's a certainty to that given Mr. Abbott's comments today."
Abbott and Lee Doney, acting CEO of the B.C. Ambulance Service, held a news conference at the legislature to reveal that they had offered a one-year contract with a three per cent pay increase. Sweetened with signing bonuses of up to $4,100 for full-time paramedics and up to $2,600 for part-timers, the offer totals six per cent, but it was rejected.
Essential service provisions are being worked out that would keep most paramedics working, "so there is no reason why anyone need panic," Abbott said.
Abbott noted that "the clock is running out" on the life of the B.C. government, which will be dissolved April 14 for the provincial election. During the month-long campaign, the government would be unable to call the legislature back to pass back-to-work legislation.
Abbott urged the Canadian Union of Public Employees local 873 executive to let members vote on what he called a "generous" offer with signing bonuses larger than those accepted by dozens of other government unions in 2006.
"They won't get an opportunity to vote on it because I won't sign a memorandum," Strohmaier said. "My members aren't interested a signing bonus as much as they are interested in narrowing the gap that exists between wages in emergency services."
Members have voted 97 per cent to give the union executive a strike mandate, and notice will be served to take effect at midnight March 31, he said.
Labour Minister Iain Black said he has asked his deputy Paul Straszak to assess the likelihood of a settlement and report to him by Sunday. Black wouldn't comment on the possibility the government would consider back-to-work legislation next week, the last week of the session before the election campaign begins.
NDP health critic Adrian Dix said he has been urging the government for three years to deal with recruitment problems, especially in rural and remote areas where part-time paramedics hold other jobs and are paid $2 an hour to be on call.
"You have many areas, really huge swaths of the province where frequently there is no one on call," Dix said. "So if there's a call in Anahim Lake, that means the ambulance goes from Williams Lake, which means the ambulances from 100 Mile [House] have to cover Williams Lake."

http://www.adventuresourcetours.com

"Abbott said the union's demand for wage parity with Vancouver Police constables represents an 87 per cent increase in total compensation over the next seven years. That figure was rejected by union president John Strohmaier, who said the union wants four to 4.5 per cent per year over seven years."

Is this paragraph trying to say that the gov't offered an 87% increase and paramedics rejected it? I'm pretty sure that's not what happened!

No, I think it meant that Abbott "claimed" that the union were ASKING for an 87% increase (over 7 years) so that it would sound unrealistic and give him the opportunity to deny them the increase. The union denies that they were asking for this much, and say that they are requesting 4.5% per year over 7 years.

http://www2.canada.com/surreynow/news/story.html?id=43e7502d-efe8-4aca-8...

http://www.bclocalnews.com/bc_north/ominecaexpress/news/41987157.html

No matter what. Paramedics in this province can not survive on $2 an hour. We are not even considered Emergency Service Workers by this government. We are on the same scenes as Fire and Police. You don't see police getting inside a smashed up possibly dangerous vehicle to save a persons life. What other profession gets paid less than the price of a coffee? We have families and homes to support.

SAME SCENE SAME PAY!!!!!!!

http://www.saveourparamedics.com

http://www.adventuresourcetours.com

Ambulance Paramedics of BC warn B.C. Liberal government that legislation to impose contract will neither resolve dispute with paramedics nor improve rapidly deteriorating ambulance response times, following bargaining report released to Labour Minister today

RICHMOND, BC, March 29 /CNW/ - The Ambulance Paramedics of BC are today
warning the B.C. Liberal provincial government that imposing a contract will
neither resolve their collective bargaining dispute nor improve rapidly
deteriorating ambulance response times, following release of a report to
Labour Minister Iain Black saying there is "virtually no chance" of reaching
an agreement before April 14, when the Legislature is dissolved for the
provincial election.
"We have a BC Ambulance Service that is in critical condition and we have
ambulance paramedics without a new collective agreement - it will take both
sides working together to resolve both problems," said John Strohmaier,
President of the Ambulance Paramedics of BC, CUPE Local 873.
"We warn the B.C. Liberal government very calmly and very clearly - do
not attempt to impose a contract on our members that they do not and will not
accept," Strohmaier said. "Taking away our legal right to collectively bargain
and take a very limited strike under the government's own essential services
legislation will only make a bad situation much, much worse."
The Ambulance Paramedics of BC has served strike notice effective for
Wednesday April 1 and essential services levels have already been negotiated
through the Labour Relations Board, Strohmaier said.
Strohmaier said the BC government has repeatedly refused to address
issues affecting patients and provide paramedics with fair wages and working
conditions to let them do a better job.
The union received a 96% strike mandate from its more than 3,500 members
in a province-wide mail-in ballot, with a record 70% of its members voting,
Strohmaier said.
"Ambulance Paramedics don't want a strike - they want a new collective
agreement to help us provide our patients with the emergency response times
and services they deserve," Strohmaier said.
Right now the BC Ambulance Service only meets its emergency response time
goal of arriving in under 9 minutes just 52% of the time, compared to 85% in
1985, Strohmaier said. "That's the real issue the BC government doesn't want
to talk about during a provincial election - but you can bet we're going to
make it an issue if we can't reach a freely bargained collective agreement."
Strohmaier called on BC Health Minister George Abbott to get involved in
finding a solution rather than relying on imposed legislation that will fix
nothing.

Background at website: www.saveourparamedics.com

http://www.adventuresourcetours.com

VANCOUVER — B.C. ambulance paramedics are poised to strike Wednesday after failing to reach an agreement with the provincial government over its demands for pay parity with other emergency workers.

The union representing 3,500 ambulance paramedics issued 72-hour strike notice on Sunday, the same day a report on the contract negotiations was released to Labour Minister Iain Black.

“At this stage a strike appears inevitable,” Black said Sunday. He said the government is now considering “next steps” before the legislature dissolves on April 14 in preparation of the provincial election.

Black wouldn’t say if government was considering back-to-work legislation, saying the ministry of health would make those decisions.

“I’m not going to speculate if that is even under discussion,” he said.

Paramedics voted 96 per cent in favour of strike action last week to push for better ambulance service and obtain fair wages and working conditions.

John Strohmaier, of the Canadian Union of Public Employees’ Union, noted it will be a controlled strike, and essential service levels will remain in place.

Strohmaier argues paramedics are paid less than police and firefighters and are the lowest paid emergency services workers in B.C.

The union is seeking about a four to 4.5 per cent wage increase per year over seven years, but the government is proposing a one-year contract with three per cent increase sweetened with signing bonuses of up to $4,100 for full-time paramedics and up to $2,600 for part-timers.

http://www.adventuresourcetours.com

Update: Paramedics union rejects government's latest effort to avert strike

By Lindsay Kines, Times ColonistMarch 31, 2009 11:27 AM
StoryPhotos ( 1 )

Health Minister George Abbott
Photograph by: Files, Canwest News Service
The union for B.C. ambulance paramedics has already rejected Health Minister George Abbott’s latest effort to avert a strike slated to begin at midnight.

Abbott offered a voluntary 90-day contract extension that would protect signing bonuses and ensure labour peace during the election campaign beginning April 14.

But John Strohmaier, president of Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 873, dismissed the proposal this morning on behalf of 3,500 paramedics and dispatchers.

He said Abbott wanted to set up a number of committees that would look at improving the ambulance service. But the government promised a similar process five years ago that never went anywhere, Strohmaier said.

“The ink wasn’t even dry on that agreement and the employer wasn’t living up to the terms of that agreement, nor was the government,” he said.

Abbott said the voluntary contract extension would keep signing bonuses on the table. Otherwise, the bonuses of $4,100 for full-time paramedics expire with the contract at midnight.

Strohmaier said the offer simply buys the paramedics’ silence in the run-up to the May 12 provincial election.

“It would be a voluntary 75- to 90-day cooling off period where we wouldn’t engage in a strike,” he said. “And that would just sort of buy the government a free ride through the election and then we’d be dealing with a new government, be it NDP or Liberal in the first few days of their mandate.”

The union proposed that mediator Vince Ready be brought in to help the two sides reach an agreement. “But Minister Abbott and the government seemed to be reluctant to agree to somebody like Mr. Ready,” Strohmaier said.

The B.C. Ambulance Service has offered a one-year contract and three-per-cent salary increase plus signing bonus. The union wants a four- to 4.5 per cent wage increase per year over seven years to bring them in line with other emergency responders, such as police and firefighters.

If there is a strike, essential service legislation will ensure that ambulances still respond normally to 9-1-1 calls and other medical emergencies.

http://www.adventuresourcetours.com

Paramedics plan job action
Written by Bernice Trick
Citizen staff
Monday, 30 March 2009

Paramedics in northern B.C. are among the 3,500 in the province planning job action Wednesday, but its unlikely that patients will notice.
Richard Volla, regional vice president for Local 873, says although paramedics are technically on strike, essential service legislation means workers will not be walking off the job.
Their job action will involve refraining from non-essential duties like paperwork and moving ambulances to service centres, which will have to be done by management, said Volla, who added, the union will be in a legal position to begin various picketing actions.
The dispute between the BC Ambulance paramedics and the province, particularly for the North, involves the gain of medical, dental and pension benefits for entry-level paramedics, Volla said.
"We have 550 paramedics in the North, of which 60 are full-time and 490 are part-time who have to wait six years to get benefits," said Volla.
The union is seeking wage increases that would give it parity with other emergency services like police and fire departments, Volla said.
A Canadian Press story Monday said the union wants increases of about four per cent per year over four years, while the province has offered a three-per-cent pay raise over one year.
B.C. Labour Minister Ian Black says further negotiations could be hampered by the coming provincial election. Once the legislature is dissolved on April 14, the province can't offer any more money or table back-to-work legislation until after the May 12 vote.
He said negotiations could still happen during an election campaign, although no new talks are scheduled.
Paramedics voted 96 per cent in favour of strike on Feb. 25, and served 72-hours notice over the weekend.

http://www.adventuresourcetours.com