Re: Save BC Ambulance Paramedics

[tmrinas]

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.