NEW AMBULANCE SERVICE MODEL TO BENEFIT PATIENTS

VICTORIA – Integrating ambulance services more closely with the health-care system is the most logical and appropriate way to enhance patient care and renew the British Columbia Ambulance Service, Health Services Minister Kevin Falcon announced today.

“Over the past year, front-line paramedics made it abundantly clear the current system is broken and fundamental change is necessary to improve emergency services across the province, particularly in rural and remote areas,” Falcon said. “By aligning BCAS more closely with our health system, we can explore innovative ways to enhance the role paramedics play in serving the needs of patients.” Under the new approach, oversight for the Emergency Health Services Commission and BCAS will be transferred to the Provincial Health Services Authority. The decision is based in part on a month-long consultation on options for new service delivery models identified in a report from industrial inquiry commissioner Chris Trumpy. The consultation focused on three options outlined in the commissioner’s report, including closer integration with the health system, closer integration with other emergency service providers and opportunities for private-sector service delivery. “While the path we’ve chosen will ensure integration with the health sector – it will leave the door open for closer alignment with other emergency service providers and private delivery models where it makes sense in individual communities,” said Falcon. “We understand a ‘one size fits all’ approach may not serve the needs of patients in every community, and want the flexibility to explore innovative options for service delivery within a provincially co-ordinated framework.”

Falcon says fixing the model of service delivery is the important first step to resolving key issues raised consistently by front-line paramedics throughout the recent labour dispute. These included heavy reliance on overtime in the Lower Mainland and the need to improve service delivery and employment conditions, particularly for part-time paramedics and those in rural and remote communities. With respect to the latter, Falcon is optimistic closer integration with the health system will allow the parties to be creative in finding solutions that improve both the working conditions for rural paramedics and the health needs of local communities.

Falcon added that he has asked Minister of Labour Murray Coell to investigate bargaining unit implications of this decision. The Ministry of Labour will consult directly with paramedics and other stakeholders, completing consultation by March 31, 2010.

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SUMMARY OF BCAS CONSULTATION (Backgrounder)

On Feb. 10, 2010, the Ministry of Health Services launched a consultation with stakeholders to determine the best model of ambulance service delivery in British Columbia.

The Minister of Health Services wrote directly to paramedics and dispatchers at the BC Ambulance Service seeking their confidential feedback on the models, and in particular, their opinions on how each of the models could contribute to providing part-time paramedics with a clear and reasonable path to full-time employment and improved financial stability. Approximately 170 individuals took advantage of this opportunity to provide feedback.

Paramedics march on MLA‘s office

2010-01-17 Kelowna Daily Courier:
Waving placards and banners, B.C. paramedics wearing their familiar neon-green jackets marched on Penticton MLA Bill Barisoff‘s constituency office Saturday to push the provincial Liberals for free collective bargaining rights. Paul Faoro, president of CUPE Local 15 and general vice-president for CUPE BC, who led the protest, told paramedics a new contract must be signed. “This is about life and death. It‘s as simple as that,” Faoro told the crowd of about 50. “We shouldn‘t be out here today. We‘re fighting for a better ambulance system.” For the past few years, B.C. paramedics have been trying to get an inquiry into the condition of ambulance service in the province, which they claim is underfunded and understaffed.

On April 1 of last year, the paramedics went on strike, but because they are an essential service, the only strike action taken was attaching “On Strike” signs onto their ambulances. Paramedics claim that under their current contract, wait times for 911 calls have been increasing and they do not have enough ambulances to correct this, putting people‘s lives in jeopardy. A collective agreement could not be reached, and in November, while paramedics were looking at an offer from the B.C. Ambulance Service, the government imposed an agreement forcing them back to working their regular and overtime shifts. The move was made after the government bent to VANOC‘s request to ensure ambulance service for the upcoming Olympic Games, said Faoro.
“It‘s troubling when an unelected board like VANOC can pick up the phone and can actually get the attention of government and oppose legislation, which is unprecedented in this country, to effectively ensure that for the six weeks of the Olympics and Paralympics that the ambulance system is going to work,” he said.

Faoro said that these protests are far from falling on deaf ears of the government. “We‘ve had about 30 of these rallies now across British Columbia,” he said. “People are now starting to understand this isn‘t just about the ambulance and paramedics themselves. This is about the actual system.” Following wait times being released, the public is beginning to realize the inequities with the ambulance service in the province, he said: “I am hopeful the government comes to the table and works with us. We should have the best ambulance system in this province and I think everybody wants this.” Brad Fraser, regional vice-president for the Ambulance Paramedics of B.C. for CUPE Local 873 said its group is being used as “guinea pigs” and have become “doormats” for the provincial government.

Fraser told paramedics they must not accept “the pittance” being offered by the government and must voice their insistence to work out a new agreement. “I challenge you all in the next month to sharpen your swords because the show is about to begin,” he said.

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CUPE 873 On Strike Documentary from CUPE 873 on Vimeo.

B.C.'s striking paramedics ordered back to work

Saturday, November 7, 2009 CBC News:

After a night-long session of the legislature, the provincial government has passed legislation forcing B.C.'s striking ambulance paramedics back to work. After nearly 13 hours, Bill 21 passed early Saturday morning, forcing a new contract on ambulance paramedics, who have been on strike since April. Union leaders representing B.C.'s paramedics called it a sad day for democracy and said the fight is far from over. John Strohmeier, president of the Ambulance Paramedics of B.C., said Health Minister Kevin Falcon is wrong to think services will resume as normal. "First of all, we're not going to be 100 per cent compliant with the legislation, I don't expect," he said. "And I won't be directing my members to, for example, put on the uniforms anytime soon, nor will I be directing them to remove the stickers from their cars. All they're simply going to do is, where it says 'on strike,' it will now say 'un-strike.' "

Though the 3,500 paramedics across the province have technically been on strike since April, as an essential service, they could not stop working, which has blunted their ability to pressure the government. Strohmeier said this shows Falcon is clearly out of touch. "He's obviously got his head in the sand and doesn't realize the critical condition this ambulance service has been in for years, so his legislation is not going to restore our confidence in our employer," he said. "In fact, all he's done is ripped the heart out of every paramedic in this province by doing this. And I can tell you for myself, I'm not going to be in a hurry to volunteer for this health minister, as I have in the past."

The one-year deal imposed by the province is retroactive to April 1 and includes a wage increase of three per cent. Paramedics were after wage parity with other first responders, seeking a seven per cent raise every year for three years.

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.”