For Immediate Release
VICTORIA— The B.C. Liberals’ decision to ram through legislation forcing an imposed contract on ambulance paramedics is an admission of their failure to manage the health care system, New Democrat leader Carole James said today.
“The B.C. Liberals could have appointed an independent arbitrator and settled the paramedics’ strike months ago. Instead, they ignored the issue and refused to listen to ambulance workers’ concerns,” said James.
North Coast MLA Gary Coons added, “It’s a sad for democracy. British Columbians feel deceived by the B.C. Liberals’ failed record on health care and the current attack against our valued paramedics all across the province. To pass legislation in the middle of a ratification vote is unprecedented. The members of CUPE 873 , the BC Ambulance Paramedics, were voting on a September 28 offer from the government and this is the first time in Labour history that any government has ordered back a group of workers and imposed a contract during a ratification vote. This shows the contempt and disrespect for not only the free collective bargaining system , but for our paramedics who risk their lives, to save ours, every day in this great province.”
New Democrat MLAs opposed Bill 21, the Ambulance Services Collective Agreement Act, through an all-night session of the legislature, but on Saturday morning the Liberal government rammed through this draconian piece of legislation. Although the opposition spent over 30 hrs of debate not one backbench Liberal government member stood to justify this assault on workers, families and the bargaining process, and only 2 Ministers gave their ‘interpretation’!
Throughout the paramedics’ dispute, essential services orders have ensured that ambulance services have not been impacted. In many cases, levels of ambulance service have actually been higher under the essential services order.
“Although the Minister of Health used H1N1 as an excuse, this legislation seems to have been influenced by VANOC and the VANOC Medical Services (see below) who requested that the Campbell government either settle or legislate the strike so that services would not be interrupted during the Olympic Games. The government chose legislation that will not only set back future negotiations with the paramedics but will inflame the labour relations climate just months before public sector negotiations”, said Coons. “If the government were serious about improving our public health care system, they would respect front-line health care workers, including the hard work of ambulance paramedics who save lives in our communities every day. I believe that this is not the end of the paramedic struggle to fight for their, and our, ambulance service. They have the support and respect of so many people in BC.”
Paramedics have been fighting for better staffing levels and fair wages, including an end to the $2 an hour on-call rate.
The B.C. Liberals have a record of trampling the rights of ordinary British Columbians. Last year, the B.C. Liberals had to bring in legislation to repair the damage done when they tore up health care workers’ contracts in 2003, which the Supreme Court of Canada ruled illegal.
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To read Gary’s 8:00pm contribution to the all-night debate, follow this Hansard link.
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Earlier this fall, a memorandum was sent from Dr Mike Wilkinson (Director of Medical Services for Vanoc) to Stephen Brown, Lee Doney and other government officials. In part that memo stated:
“VANOC Medical Services (and thus the IOC) requires definitive confirmation by Oct 1 2009 that all required ambulance services will be provided as planned. These services include the ability to engage the VPCs and BCAS members in full venue planning as soon as possible. This confirmation must also include a guarantee that no services during the Games will be disrupted or reduced from what has been planned.”
“If we are unable to obtain that guarantee (through either settlement of the strike or legislated “detente” for the Games), then VANOC will be required to initiate alternative contingency plans to avoid cancellation of the Games.”