Ambulances and paramedics have been scarce this weekend. A spokesperson for the Ambulance Paramedics of B.C. says members were booking off ill or "exercising their right to choose not to accept extra shifts."
BJ Chute, Director of Public Education for the APBC, told The Tyee that a Labour Relations Board hearing has met Saturday and Sunday and has adjourned until Monday. "B.C. Ambulance Services is choosing not to proceed until tomorrow" with its claims the the paramedics are engaged in an illegal strike.
Chute said it was ironic that Health Minister Kevin Falcon had ordered paramedics back to work because of the H1N1 pandemic, but had taken no steps to ensure that they received flu immunization as a priority group.
"Paramedics are susceptible to H1N1 too," Chute said, adding that 30 to 40 percent of BCAS excluded managers have recently been off on sick leave or holidays.
B.C. Ambulance Services did not return a call from The Tyee, and its website has no mention of the labour dispute more recent than September 28.
Crawford Kilian is a contributing editor of The Tyee.
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crankypants
2 years ago
No surprise
It is not a surprise that the BC Ambulance Service hasn't responded to the Tye. They haven't received their official messaging from the Public Affairs Bureau and Kevin Falcon yet.
crankypants
2 years ago
Oops
That should be Tyee, not Tye.
sunshine coast girl
2 years ago
What a screwed up government.
What? Do they think paramedics don't get the flu? They should have been on the front line to receive the shots. Now, the Lieberals are once again, reaping what they have sown. Too bad it's always us that pays for their stupidity.
Dan the socialist
2 years ago
I would not want to be a
I would not want to be a paramedic in this province.
if they are sick they are sick. Oh well... *nudge nudge wink wink*
I support the paramedics 100%. people mention they sit around most of the day and do not deserve the pay they get, well they save lives and btw no one complains about Firemen sitting around a lot too.
How much is a life worth?
if these guys are sick, they are sick. Not their fault the government won't hire enough.
Maybe if they were treated better too more people would want to become Paramedics..
Just think, the convention centre was 500 million over run (yet most media stays quiet on this, but if NDP were in they would be shrieking) and some of that could of been put to good use for the Paramedics.
This is yet another issue in the 'bad gordo' department yet will people of BC ever wake up? I doubt it and if an election were held tomorrow the sheeple would re elect him...Like is anyone still 'upset' about HST? That sure went away quietly...