Yup, it’s official. Paramedics forced back to work.

November 9, 2009 by PEA Blogger

BJ Chute says their job action still isn’t over, and we’re excited to see what CUPE has up their sleeve after the actions of the BC Government:

Liberals push through bill to end 7-month strike by paramedics

Legislation forcing British Columbia paramedics back to work will do nothing to fix the broken ambulance service, a union official said Saturday.Members of the B.C. legislature debated the back-to-work legislation overnight Friday and early into Saturday morning to end the seven-month strike by paramedics.

The bill covers 3,500 ambulance paramedics, members of CUPE 873, who went on strike April 1.

Government House Leader Mike de Jong had said he wanted to get the bill passed before next week, when the legislature is not sitting.

The health minister said the strike had dragged on too long and was putting people’s health at risk with the approach of winter and the danger of the H1N1 virus.

But BJ Chute, the director of public education for the paramedics, said there was no need for the government to force a contract on the union.

“I think the paramedics around this province . . . are left asking what happened to democracy in British Columbia,” he said.

The retroactive one-year contract gives the paramedics a three-per-cent wage hike, but Chute said it doesn’t address staffing, training or equipment issues.

The union has said the only reason the government forced workers back to the job is because the 2010 Olympics Games are just a few months away, something the government has denied.

However a recent statement from the Olympic organizing committee said it asked the Ministry of Health and the B.C. Ambulance Service in September if paramedics would be available for the Olympics, and if not it would make other arrangements.

“It would have been nice to hear from the Liberal government as to what it is their real reasons were,” Chute said.

Lee Doney, CEO of the B.C. Ambulance service, said he knows the decision to force paramedics back to work was unpopular.

“I realize that there’s frustration and a high level of tempers out there with some of the paramedics. I just appeal for calm,” he added.

Because it’s a year-long contract, Doney said it would only be a few months before the two sides went back to the bargaining table again.

Throughout the strike the paramedics had been working under Essential Services orders, and other than a giant sticker reading “On Strike” pasted on ambulances, the public noticed little difference in service.

Chute said paramedics won’t let the government or public forget, saying the union has some “measured responses” planned for the coming months. He didn’t explain what that might mean.

Opposition New Democrat Leader Carole James called the Liberal government’s decision to legislate the dispute to an end a betrayal.

“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.”

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Weekend story: What happened to fair negotiations?

November 8, 2009 by PEA Blogger

From the Coast Reporter:

Morale has hit a low point for Sunshine Coast paramedics.

On Tuesday, the provincial government introduced legislation that forces the province’s 3,500 ambulance paramedics back to work in the middle of collective bargaining. The sudden move from Health Minister Kevin Falcon brings an end to the seven-month strike and is unprecedented in Canadian labour history. This is the first time a government has forced public employees to accept a collective agreement while the union is in the middle of voting on an offer from that same government.

The results of that vote, by the way, would have been released this week.

Legislating them back to work with Bill 21, the Ambulance Services Collective Agreement Act, while a vote is taking place is totally undemocratic. It’s just plain wrong.

Falcon used the H1N1 virus to justify imposing this legislation. The close proximity of the 2010 Olympics is also another factor.

Neither situation holds much water. The H1N1 health crisis has been going on for months — in the middle of the strike. If that was the real reason, why did it take seven months for the government to move? If they were so concerned about this outbreak, why not negotiate a fair deal right away?

The NDP opposition released an internal memo this week from VANOC that demanded a guarantee of ambulance services either through a settlement or legislation before the Games in February.

So why not get a mediator, bring both sides to the bargaining table and hammer out a fair deal? What is wrong with paying paramedics what the other first responders like police and fire departments are getting paid? All these emergency responders play a vital role in our communities. They attend highway accidents, fires and disasters and keep our communities safe. Why is one group more important than they other? The simple answer is they are not.

If the government had just negotiated a fair deal for the paramedics, this issue wouldn’t be an issue at all. But instead the raw feelings of paramedics are still just that — raw and angry.

Falcon and the Liberals may have a deal, and the strike is over, but they have done themselves no favours with the way they went about achieving that deal.

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Weekend Story

November 7, 2009 by PEA Blogger

From CBC:

A union leader representing offshore oil industry workers in Newfoundland and Labrador says testimony from the sole survivor of the Cougar helicopter crash underscores serious problems with offshore safety.

Sheldon Peddle, who works on the Hibernia platform and is president of Local 2121 of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union, sat in an inquiry room Thursday and listened intently as Robert Decker told his story of what happened before and after the crash.

Decker was testifying at the inquiry into offshore helicopter safety, prompted by the March 12 crash off St. John’s that killed 17 people.

Peddle said he sometimes struggled as he listened to Decker explain what he went through after the Sikorsky S-92A crashed into the ocean and sank into deep water.

“I think for Robert it was hardest of all,” Peddle told CBC news following the testimony. “I noticed that for a little while he struggled a bit. I did myself actually. Yeah, It was pretty tough.”

Decker told the inquiry that the training people must complete before they are allowed to travel to offshore work isn’t adequate.

“As good as the training is, a couple of days of controlled emergency training in a pool [are] not enough to allow anyone to develop the instinctive reaction to survive a crash like this,” he told the inquiry.

Decker escaped the helicopter as it plummeted deep into the ocean. He said that when he reached the surface, he had problems with his survival suit.

“I couldn’t get the gloves on and even in the training in warm water when you have complete dexterity with your fingers, I think they’re a little bit tricky to get on. And there is also a shield that you pull over from around the hood that kind of protects the spray from getting on your face and I wasn’t able to access that, either,” Decker said.

Peddle said he shares Decker’s concern about the survival suits.

“I haven’t flown in a helicopter since the spring because of survival suit issues. I don’t have a suit that fits me,” he said.

Peddle said he hopes Decker’s testimony will have a powerful effect on the offshore industry, as the offshore workers he represents still have many questions about the Sikorsky S-92A.

He said the latest news that a crack was found in the gearbox footing of a Halifax-based Sikorsky this week has amplified their concerns.

“To know now that we are developing cracks in the gearbox is a very unsettling thought. I think a lot of members feel that the helicopter has significant safety problems.”

Following Decker’s testimony, the offshore helicopter inquiry adjourned until Nov. 16.

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ORL faces tough times

November 6, 2009 by PEA Blogger

It’s not really anything new, but it’s of interest to our members – especially as we complete collective bargaining:

Regional library system feeling the pinch of the recession

Tough times came with tough measures for the B.C. public library system this year, Kelowna city council heard on Monday.

Lesley Dieno, executive director of the Okanagan Regional Library System, told council the recession has certainly seen an increase in traffic to the local libraries, up 4.5 per cent and likely to hit six per cent over last year’s numbers by December’s end.

However, that increase has come alongside sweeping provincial funding cuts, which may make it difficult to hold the course let alone meet increased demand.

Provincial funding accounts for roughly 10 per cent of the system’s budget and will be cut by 22 per cent this year, she said. “There are going to be some challenging decisions (ahead),” added library systems financial manager Don Nettleton.

Whether sticking to budgets means a reduction in staff hours or layoffs is not clear at this point, but Nettleton said the system is hoping to avoid drastic measures.

The Okanagan’s library system costs roughly 20 per cent less than other systems in the province, meaning it is already very cost effective for what it offers, he pointed out, noting that municipalities foot the majority of the bill.

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VANOC behind legislation: Union

November 5, 2009 by PEA Blogger

From Metro:

The union representing British Columbia’s striking paramedics says the provincial government is forcing staff back to work because it was pressured by VANOC.

On Monday, Health Services Minister Kevin Falcon introduced legislation in the House to force paramedics to end seven months of strike.

Falcon said the move was meant to relieve tired ambulance service managers and to address the H1N1 pandemic.

But CUPE B.C. president Barry O’Neill said the union has a memo sent from Mike Wilkinson, VANOC’s director of medical services, to Ambulance Service CEO Lee Doney in September.

According to O’Neill, the memo stated that VANOC Medical Services required “definitive confirmation” by Oct. 1 that all required ambulance services would be provided as planned during the 2010 Games.

O’Neill said the memo went on to state that if service couldn’t be guaranteed through settlement or legislation forcing an end to the strike, VANOC would have to initiate “alternative contingency plans to avoid cancellation of the Games.”

O’Neill said it seems “obvious” the memo is “at the heart” of the government’s legislation.

“The people of B.C. have the right to know the truth from their health minister, especially when workers’ rights are being trampled,” he said. “To blame the H1N1 pandemic when the ambulance paramedics have been calling on the government to address this health crisis for more than a year is despicable.”

VANOC said it wasn’t commenting on the matter.

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LSS almost cuts its entire workforce

November 4, 2009 by PEA Blogger

In case you hadn’t heard.

Check out AccessToJustice and the PEA’s site for on-going coverage

B.C. Legal Aid closes 5 offices

The B.C. Legal Services Society — the body that administers legal aid in B.C. — says a funding shortage is forcing it to close five regional offices and lay off up to 54 staff.

The offices will close in Kelowna, Kamloops, Prince George, Victoria and Surrey.

Attorney General Mike de Jong said Tuesday the Legal Services Society is facing tough times because of the economic downturn.

“They are doing what we expect of them, and that is to try and reduce administrative costs and try and channel as much resource as possible into front-line services,” de Jong said.

De Jong also denied the government was cutting its legal aid funding, saying other sources of funding have dried up, partly because of the recession and low interest rates. He said the society is funded in part by a tax on lawyers’ trust accounts.

But B.C. NDP attorney general’s critic Leonard Krog accused the Campbell government of underfunding legal aid.

Krog said the Liberals have cut the legal-aid budget from $96 million in 2001 and 2002 to $74 million today.

“At the very same time we can put half a billion dollars into a roof on BC Place, we can’t help the poorest British Columbians keep a roof over their heads,” he said.

Krog doesn’t believe the cuts will be made only in administration and that services will suffer.

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Deal paramedics get from legislation is worse than an offer they were voting on

November 4, 2009 by PEA Blogger

Turns out that the deal the paramedics are getting by being forced back to work is worse than a recent offer they were currently voting on:

CUPE BC Paramedics Legislation a Shameful First

The B.C. Liberals are legislating the province’s 3,500 striking ambulance paramedics “back to work” with the Ambulance Services Collective Agreement Act. The move today in the Legislature is a first in Canadian labour history. It marks the first time a government has forced public employees to accept a collective agreement while the union is in the middle of voting on an offer from that same government.

The paramedics, members of CUPE 873, have been on strike since April 1 for better staffing levels, wages, and an independent industrial inquiry commission to address the critical condition of ambulance services. The membership is voting on the government’s Sept. 28 offer with the results expected this Friday. The legislation calls for a retroactive one-year deal (with a three-per-cent wage hike) – with less than is in the offer they are voting right now.

CUPE BC president Barry O’Neill said the move “marks a shocking new low by this government.” He added that “despite our repeated attempts to settle this dispute at the bargaining table, the government has shown its true colours by not even waiting until the end of this week for the democratic results of the membership vote on their latest offer.”

“Paramedics have had their right to strike virtually eliminated via Essential Services orders. They’ve repeatedly asked for an independent arbitrator and the government has repeatedly refused. Now they have had their right to collective bargaining taken away,” said O’Neill.

Falcon said today he “knows there are a whole bunch of labour issues,” but said he wants to “put those aside” especially in light of how tired the Ambulance Service managers have gotten over the past seven months doing just part of the regular work that paramedics do.

According to CUPE 873 president John Strohmaier, “The government claims that this legislation is necessary in light of the H1N1 crisis, but we have being saying the service needs serious attention for more than four years. We warned the provincial government five months ago that equipment was not adequate to meet the pandemic – many ambulances still not have adequate equipment for these frontline health workers. If they wanted to protect the public they could have settled this dispute and got down to work on improving ambulance services months ago.”

“Doney says they want to fill vacancies but can’t train new employees during the strike. The reality is that paramedics are leaving the service in droves because they pay for their own training, they pay for their own travel to and from the job and they cannot afford to remain paramedics,” Strohmaier explained.

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The ambulance strike is over, because it’s being forced to by law

November 3, 2009 by PEA Blogger

Back-to-work legislation has been introduced as Kevin Falcon (our Health Minister) says the strike is potentially putting lives at risk while H1N1 is running so rampant in BC. After this, we definitely think the virus should go back to being called swine flu!

What do you think? How does this affect your confidence in the collective bargaining process as we enter into negotiations? Comment below!

BC to end ambulance strike, citing H1N1

The B.C. government is imposing an end to a seven-month-long strike by British Columbia’s ambulance paramedics, citing pandemic infection rates that are expected to rise in B.C. in the coming weeks.

“Right now, our entire health system is operating at full capacity to manage the impact of the H1N1,” Health Services Minister Kevin Falcon said shortly after introducing legislation to end the labour dispute. “As we come forward to a period where we know the H1N1 pandemic is going to escalate and get worse in the coming weeks and months, we do really need all hands on deck.”

The ambulance service has been operating at essential service levels since April 1, and Mr. Falcon said there is no evidence that the strike has harmed health care services. But he said the pandemic is taxing the system now, and letting the dispute continue would mean “potentially putting lives at risk.”

The union representing ambulance paramedics said imposing a one-year deal, retroactive to April 1, won’t help fix the ambulance service. “His comments around the H1N1 pandemic are laughable at best,” said spokesman BJ Chute.

The legislation was introduced shortly after Provincial Health Officer Perry Kendall announced that demand for the flu vaccination will continue to outstrip supply for the coming weeks.

“I would ask again that British Columbians be patient and wait their turn,” he told a media briefing in Victoria.

Until this week, the province has targeted three priority groups: Individuals under 65 years of age with chronic disease, pregnant women, and individuals – including First Nations people – living in remote or isolated communities.

Starting this week, the list has expanded to include front-line health care workers and children between six months and five years of age. As well, people who are in household contact with babies younger than six months old or people with compromised immune systems are now eligible.

But just as the number of people who can have the shot rises, the supply is dropping. Next week, B.C. expects to receive 25,000 doses of the vaccine, which will be reserved for pregnant women who want a formula that does not contain an adjuvant. Another 63,000 units containing the adjuvant will also be delivered.

Dr. Kendall said the province’s plan to roll out the vaccinations on a graduated basis according to need is working, despite reports that some people who are not eligible have been vaccinated. “It’s really strictly an honour system,” he said.

Health care clinics have reported they cannot keep up with the demand and have been forced to turn people away.

At Vancouver’s private Copeman Healthcare Clinic, where patients pay as much as $3,900 in annual fees to get premium services, the chief operating officer said clients who failed to meet the eligibility criteria have been refused the vaccine. The clinic just obtained 300 additional vaccines yesterday, “but it’s not nearly enough,” said Chris Nedelmann.

In the Downtown Eastside, a clinic that serves high-risk urban aboriginals was also turning patients away. Tina Braun of the Vancouver Native Health Society said she was horrified last week when she was given only 80 vaccines in the first release. “All our patients are vulnerable, it was hard to decide who is more vulnerable,” she said. This week, the clinic received another 500 units. Ms. Braun took 100 doses to another clinic, which also caters to a high-risk group in the community. Now she is faced with running out again.

By the end of this week, health authorities hope to have provided roughly 800,000 vaccinations across B.C. – that is, roughly 20 per cent of the population.

But healthy British Columbians who are not considered to be at risk should plan to wait until at least the end of this month to get their vaccination – while the infection rates continue to rise.

Even many health care workers who are supposed to be on the priority list as of this week will not likely be offered a shot. Dr. Kendall said he’d like to have had an adequate supply of the vaccine weeks ago, but given the delays, many people will have to wait until Christmas before they are able to obtain a shot for the H1N1 flu. However, he maintained that is not too late to bother with getting it: The flu strain is likely to be present in B.C. for the next couple of years.

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8 year anniversary of $8/hr story – B.C.’s minimum wage: Eight years of $8

November 2, 2009 by PEA Blogger

From CTV BC:

Young workers held a rally in downtown Vancouver Sunday to protest the provincial government’s minimum wage.

Sunday marked eight years since B.C. raised its minimum wage. The province’s $8-an-hour minimum wage is the lowest in the country.

“Keeping the minimum wage now just means higher profits for corporations,” Stephen Vonsychowski of the Vancouver & District Labour Council Young Workers Committee told CTV News.

“We’re just talking about a more reasonable slice of the pie for those people who are making the lower incomes.”

The B.C. Federation of Labour is calling on the provincial government to increase the minimum wage to $10 an hour.

“(Premier) Gordon Campbell said his government didn’t need to raise the minimum wage when the economy was creating jobs. Now that we have lost tens of thousands of jobs, he says we can’t afford to raise it,” Jim Sinclair, the federation’s president, said in a statement.

The minimum wage in the Prairies ranges from $8.80 to $9.25.

Next year, Ontario’s minimum wage is set to go up to $10.25, Newfoundland’s will grow to $10, and Nova Scotia’s will increase to $9.65.

The issue of raising the minimum wage was a polarizing issue during the May provincial election, with NDP Leader Carole James promising to raise the wage if her party took power.

“Hard work deserves to be rewarded. We will increase minimum wage,” James said at the time. She also promised tax cuts for small businesses to help offset the increased payroll expenses.

The Liberal party maintained the plan would cost B.C. taxpayers more than just higher payrolls.

“With Ms. James’ plan 50,000 jobs will disappear from small business overnight,” Campbell said during the campaign.

“I haven’t heard a small business person in the province say, ‘Please add $450 million to small business costs.’”

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Weekend story: CLC Supports Striking Museum Workers

November 1, 2009 by PEA Blogger

From BenZinGa

The Executive Council of the Canadian Labour Congress is asking workers who belong to its affiliated unions not to visit the Museum of Civilization and the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa-Gatineau until striking workers have secured a fair collective agreement.

The CLC’s Executive Council, meeting in Ottawa, passed a resolution saying in part that the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation (CMCC) “has blatantly abandoned that responsibility by failing to negotiate a fair collective agreement with its workforce.”

For the past five weeks, 420 members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada have been on strike at the museums to secure a collective agreement that would change the museum’s employment practices: 38% of the workforce is employed on a temporary basis, and museum workers are being paid 30% less on average than other federal government museum workers doing the same or similar jobs.

The CLC is also calling upon the government of Canada to force the museum “to negotiate a collective agreement that ends the precarious work practices used by the Corporation.”

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