Union displeased with ’status quo’ budget

While BC Government Finance Minister is smiling about his ministry’s commitment to health care, the Health Sciences Association of BC, the union that represents 16,000 diagnostic, clinical and rehabilitation specialists, is not. Reid Johnson, President of the HSA is warning British Columbians to brace themselves for yet another round of cuts to health care services around the province. [Read more]

Paramedic pay rates — what are they really?

Following the introduction of legislation to force paramedics back to work, the province will establish a commission of inquiry to help resolve the long stand-off between the government and workers.

While the government claims that full-time parametics earn between $64K and $91K per year, MLA Macdonald says that they “get paid less than Tim Horton’s workers.” [Read more]

Paramedics ordered to work overtime, talks resume

Talks are back on between the Ambulance Paramedics of BC and the employer. The two bargaining committees will meet Tuesday in Vancouver with third-party mediator Mark Atkinson in attendance.

The development came Sunday following weekend discussions between CUPE 873, CUPE BC and the BC Ambulance Service.

At a Friday support rally for paramedics in Richmond, CUPE 873 president John Strohmaier directed members to work only their regularly scheduled shifts. In view of the government’s recognition that this dispute must be resolved at the bargaining table, that direction has been rescinded. [Read more]

Rural communities depend on paramedic services

Press release –

Government must meet obligations for service provision to rural communities.

The contract negotiations currently underway between the provincial government and the paramedics’ union will deeply affect rural communities and the fact that this dispute has led to strike action shows a lack of leadership on the part of the BC Liberal government, says Columbia River – Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald.

“The last paramedics’ contract made significant changes to pay structures and educational opportunities which made the job of a rural paramedic much less appealing. In order to make a living, many rural paramedics are choosing to move to larger centres, leaving rural communities scrambling to fill the ranks.” [Read more]

Ontario to raise minimum wage — will BC follow?

Press release –

Ontario commits to $10.25 minimum wage, BC’s remains frozen at $8.

The B.C. Federation of Labour is applauding the decision of Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty who has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to raise the Ontario minimum wage to $10.25 an hour.

McGuinty recommitted his government to the raise following statements to a business group where he said the government was reconsidering the decision. [Read more]

Invermere paramedics expected to strike

Paramedics in Invermere are going on strike. That’s the grim conclusion of a report to government from BC’s Deputy Labour Minister.

The report states that there is “virtually no chance” for a settlement to be reached between provincial paramedics and their employer, the BC Ambulance Service, before unionized emergency responders walk off the job in Invermere and across the province. [Read more]

Government practices force neglect of elders

A few years ago the Liberal government cut back the number of long-term care beds. That now means that if an elderly person falls and breaks a hip they end up in the hospital. If the break means that they can no longer live on their own, then they go on a waiting list to get into Columbia House. In the meantime, they are staying in hospital — taking up a bed that someone else might need. Some of these patients are ending up ‘living’ in hospital for months, maybe even a year or so. Our hospital used to have 13 beds. Now it has 8. That was also part of the Liberal cutbacks. [Read more]