Chris Trumpy will lead an industrial inquiry commission in the B.C. Ambulance Service and its dispute with paramedics, the government announced today. But the paramedics says they won't cooperate without better terms of reference.
A Ministry of Labour news release set out the current terms of reference:
In addition to an examination of the collective bargaining structure in the ambulance service, a number of items specifically requested by the union local representing paramedics and dispatchers have been incorporated in the commission's terms of reference.
These are: staff recruitment, training and retention; staff workload and occupational health and safety issues; and deployment strategies in comparison with other Canadian ambulance service delivery models.
The commission will also investigate and report on paramedic compensation across Canadian jurisdictions.
But BJ Chute, spokesperson for the paramedics, told The Tyee they had spoken with Ministry of Labour representatives yesterday and found the ministry was "not interested in the union speaking to Trumpy, nor in talking about issues important to paramedics."
Chute said Trumpy had phoned John Strohmaier, president of CUPE 873, which represents the paramedics, but had offered very little beyond the ministry's news release about the commission.
"Trumpy is a longtime friend of this government," Chute told The Tyee. He said Trumpy had been "hip deep" in the government's pre-election prediction of a $495 million deficit that became $4 billion after the election.
"He was also the chief government negotiator in the sale of BC Rail."
As a result, said Chute, "With no true terms of reference, and no unbiased commission, Trumpy doesn't have credibility. We won't be participating."
But the paramedics are still willing to meet with Trumpy, "if he'll give us terms of reference. We'll discuss them and vote on it. Otherwise, we won't be a party to dismantling the B.C. Ambulance Service."
Crawford Kilian is a contirbuting editor of The Tyee.
"With no true terms of reference....."
Quote:
"As a result, said Chute, "With no true terms of reference, and no unbiased commission, Trumpy doesn't have credibility. We won't be participating."
Bravo to the paramedics for their gutsy integrity and continued adherence to principle.
A rare thing these days.
I wish them well.
Thanks for covering this, Crawford Kilian, and The Tyee.
Testing
Testing
whitewash
That's all this will be. The paramedics are 100% right not to participate in a farce that will be made to have this sitting dictatorship look good.
Now if we can get the rest of the province to stand up to this maniac we may regain our province and our dignity.
One could tell from the
One could tell from the beginning that this whole inquiry will be a farce and it'll find what ever Mr. Trumpy's Governmental masters will want him to find. The more one sees on how this Government thinks, works, and operates, one would think that they have been taking instructions from the Chinese Government.
Predictable
What a predictable response from the clowns supposed to be representing paramedics.
The only way CUPE 873 would agree to the IIC and the terms of reference is if John Strohmaier himself was appointed the Commissioner.
CUPE 873 has proved for years that its much easier to sit on the sidelines throwing rocks than actually being part of a solution. That way they can never be accountable for anything (apart from their dire negotiations strategies) and play the blame game all day. Pity is that Government now has the justification they need to make all their changes to the ambulance service without any union input. Way to represent your members.
Unfortunately until paramedics stand up and change their union this sorry story will play out in the same unproductive and predictable way it has for years.
The chief government negotiator in the sale of BC Ra
Doesn't that say it all. I'm with the paramedics. Why participate in a game with a stacked deck and then be complicit in the outcome. Let them do what Falcon and the puppet master Campbell have already decided. Then continue the battle.
this government negotiator is far from independent
The union rejected the choice of Chris Trumpy as industrial inquiry commissioner, and says it won't co-operate with the process. The union had called for the inquiry to be headed by an independent commissioner.
The appointment of Trumpy, who retired from the public service earlier this year after a 30-year career that included stints as deputy minister of finance and secretary to the treasury board, "is nothing short of a complete sham," said B.J. Chute, spokesman for CUPE 873, Ambulance Paramedics of B.C., following the announcement yesterday.
"This is going to do nothing to fix what's wrong with the ambulance service."
I would also be rejecting Chris Trumpy.
Some info on Mr. Trumpy:
Trumpy, Chris; deputy minister, Finance
He cited two e-mails attached to documents that he said relate to the possible conflict of interest of a high-ranking government official involved in the controversial $1-billion sale of B.C. Rail.
McCullough told B.C. Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Bennett that Chris Trumpy, a deputy minister of finance, was in a potential conflict during the bidding process.
Trumpy was appointed as lead negotiator in the sale at the same time as he was chairman of the B.C. Investment Management Corp., a Crown corporation, said McCullough.
The Crown corporation handles assets of private companies for the government and now holds $350 million in stock of CN, the winner bidder in the B.C. Rail deal, he said.
Vasi Birk Trial
Nov. 20/03 Email from Chris Trumpy to Bob Virk forwarding documents from Robert Shouldice (BLG)
Nov. 20/03 Email from Helen Valledor (BLG) to Greg Reimer, Bob Virk and Chris Trumpy
Answers to Tax questions
Dec. 3/03 Email from Yvette Weils to Bob Virk forwarding email from BLG Re: Disclosure of Nexen Agreement to OH
Dec. 18/03 Email from Chris Trumpy to many including Robert Shouldice and cc to Bob Virk
Advice to Trumpy re: conflict with Port Subdivision
Chris Trumpy to Bob Virk: The draft of the CN-BCRail people transition plan
Yvette Wells to Chris Trumpy, David Merhart, John McLernan, Brian Kenny, Kevin Mahoney: Revised draft of BC Rail Final Report, Octobr 3 2003.
Stifling of FOI request alleged
And McCullough, representing former ministerial aide Bob Virk, alleged in court that senior government Deputy Minister Chris Trumpy and then-BC Rail vice-president Kevin Mahoney worked together to "stifle" a freedom of information request to access the transaction documents in the BC Rail deal.
Chris Trumpy, the deputy minister at sustainable resource management, is rumoured to be a more likely successor. Then again, Mr. Trumpy is also been said to be in-line to replace Ken Dobell, the premier's deputy minister.
I don’t believe he to be “Independent” and agree with the union on this.
Its's a foregone conclusion
that the leaders of CUPE 893 would reject ANYONE chosen to lead the commission. If government suggested Solomon, Chute would be sure to say that, being a king he could not possibly understand the needs of the working class
All throughout this very sad affair the union has constantly put its main efforts in poisoning the work atmosphere. Anyone who doesn't tow the line gets serious threats.
On the paramedics' facebook - one union type is saying that any member who might want to be part of the Olympics will lose their standing in the union. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=61351342736
That means losing your job! (And good luck on your Section 12!) Imagine if your boss tried to tell you what you could and couldn't do in your private life.
Paramedics deserve better. They deserve to have their union treat them like the professionals they are.
Don't give up
This isn't just about the Paramedics getting a fair deal. It is about Campbell trying to set a precedence that his rule is the final rule over all public employees. This man is a tough, pig-headed nut to crack but he is wrong in his aim and must not win.
By the way, I am not a public employee and never have been.