Paramedics set to strike this week

Published: March 28, 2009 12:00 PM Tom Fletcher - Kamloops This Week

B.C. ambulance paramedics appear headed for a strike this week, and Health Minister George Abbott took the unusual step 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.” Abbott and Lee Doney, acting CEO of the B.C. Ambulance Service, held a news conference at the legislature on Thursday 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. He noted “the clock is running out” on the life of the B.C. government, which will be dissolved on 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 on Tuesday, 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 this 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.”