Don't Dare Use Students as Scabs during Olympics: CUPE
Paramedics union considering boycott if student volunteers handle Games emergencies.
Bitter fight: CUPE picketers were ordered back to work.
Olympic organizers fretting about the weather cooperating can add another worry to their list: the possibility of picket lines and organized labour boycotts.
Contemporary Security Canada -- the firm responsible for x-raying and screening members of the public as they enter the gates of the 2010 Olympics -- is reportedly bringing to the Games 300 student volunteers from an Ottawa college that trains paramedics, The Tyee has learned.
The union that represents B.C.'s 3,500 ambulance paramedics, legislated back to work this November after a bitter seven-month labour dispute, says that the students are possibly being brought in as "scabs" to do work that should be done by their members.
The union, CUPE local 873, has already begun discussions with its parent, CUPE B.C. and with the B.C. Federation of Labour, about possible militant responses.
Greg Dickson of the province's 2010 Games Secretariat, declined to comment yesterday, indicating that VANOC would be the appropriate body to reply to the union's concerns. VANOC spokesman Greg Alexis also declined to comment, suggesting The Tyee address its questions to Contemporary Security.
Paramedic contingencies shrouded in secrecy
The Tyee is not the only entity having trouble getting information from VANOC, which is not legally bound by Freedom of Information legislation.
When the provincial government legislated ambulance paramedics back to work in November, it was widely reported that one motivation for the back to work order was concern expressed by VANOC about labour disruptions during the Games.
"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," said a VANOC memo obtained and made available to the press by CUPE 873. However, VANOC has reportedly so far refused to reveal its contingency plans.
"We learned about this situation on Jan. 19," BJ Chute, who speaks for local 873, told The Tyee. "We obtained a copy of a letter from the college in Ottawa to 'all paramedic preceptors and their partners.' The letter suggests that the students will act as 'first responders' in the event of an emergency. It says the volunteer work is a 'once in a lifetime' experience for the students, and that 'they would not be able to buy this kind of clinical experience.'"
The Tyee has been provided with a copy of the letter by CUPE 873. Calls with requests for comment to the college, La Cite Collegiale, and to Robert Brunet, who apparently signed the letter, were not returned. The letter refers to 300 students going as volunteers to the Games and to 16 second-year paramedic students going to Whistler with Mr. Brunet for 21 days.
Chute said that in light of these revelations his local is compelled to consider declaring a boycott of the 2010 Olympics and VANOC.
"I have asked CUPE B.C. to seek a declaration from the B.C. Federation of Labour as a means of demonstrating that paramedics are not alone in this fight,” Chute told The Tyee.
Jim Sinclair, president of the B,C. Fed, did not return Tyee calls before this story was filed.
'All our options are open': CUPE's O'Neill
A media spokesperson for Contemporary Security said that union concerns about the student volunteers were based on a misunderstanding. The Ottawa students would have no first responder responsibilities at all, she told The Tyee late in the day on Jan. 20.
All Contemporary Security employees, she said, including the Ottawa students, will be providing "pedestrian security screening services" as specified in her company's contract with Public Works Canada and the RCMP.
"All CSC staff have been hired to provide security screening services only. These are paid positions that include screeners, x-ray operators, communications operators, supervisors, and venue managers. Their responsibilities do not include emergency first response," said a company statement provided to The Tyee by email.
According to its company website, Contemporary will be hiring 5,000 security staff for the Games.
Barry O'Neill, president of CUPE B.C., says that VANOC secretiveness about its contingency plans adds to union worries that students from Ottawa may be used as scabs. He said a CUPE Freedom of Information application has been made to the province in hopes it will reveal VANOC's contingency plans, since they cannot be obtained directly from VANOC.
O'Neill insists that there is no danger of unionized paramedics refusing to do their work at the Games.
"My members have never said they wouldn't work at the Olympics," O’Neill told The Tyee in a recent phone interview. "There is absolutely no defiance here. We are ready to do our jobs."
Asked whether this simmering dispute could lead to union picket lines outside the Olympic gates, O'Neill downplayed that scenario as "only a minor possibility." He said discussions were ongoing on Jan. 20 between his office, the B.C. Federation of Labour and the head of the Ontario Federation of Labour to try to resolve the issue before it escalated. However, O'Neill did not rule out either a hot edict or picket lines if efforts to solve this problem failed.
"All our options are open," he said. ![[Tyee]](http://thetyee.cachefly.net/ui/img/ico_fishie.png){kind=small}
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sunshine coast girl
2 years ago
You better not do it Vanoc..
I am not a member of a union right now but I will be helping out on the picket line if you do.
tsieling
2 years ago
Pickets will be Protests
If they do picket, VANOC will have them classified as protesters and force them into free speech zones.
dorothy
2 years ago
Unfortunately.
this may be up to the individual, searching his or her pocketbook, conscience, and prospects for the future as a union member. Last time I looked, working as a scab in one end of the country would have consequences for one's standing with the union at home, and that goes for students too. It stands to reason that the decision to come here and do the job, knowing the overtones of the situation, that to someone who would touch that with a ten-foot pole, the prospect of picket lines and crossing them and spitting in the eye of future colleagues might not be so great a deterrent. Some people just don't get it at first try. For the locals, the old adage of 'work now, grieve later' would likely be in operation, but about those consequences...I know of a case where a week in the services of some remote outfit during a union-sanctioned strike cost a month's suspension from union membership at home. Crime shouldn't pay.
driftwolf
2 years ago
@dorothy
It might be that, given the complete lack of national press coverage of the paramedic's plight here in BC (since our only national press is quite right-wing and anti-union anyway), that these "students" weren't told and don't actually know the situation here.
I'm guessing these students (a) didn't consider the union implications, since they aren't currently union members and (b) were lied to, outright, by the recruiters.
alive
2 years ago
snowjob
One more reason to boycott the games!
The students were given a "snowjob"!
Maybe the only snow we will see at those games? lol
W Laurier
2 years ago
Well...
Sounds like some politicin' goin' on. Their contract is up in April. Their grievences are in fact quite similar to paramedics all over North America.
More hot air.
ReeferMadness
2 years ago
Oh, the irony
On the face of it, using a major event (even it is the Olympics) to train students job skills ought to be good news and embraced by all. The tragedy is we have a broken, corrupt socio-economic system where competition is essentially the sole basis for justifying one's livelihood and existence. That produces a situation in which union members trying to maintain their standard of living compete with students trying to enter the workforce.
I'm not being anti-union here. I'm making an observation about at system that is broken.
sdgreen
2 years ago
Baloney
A quick scan of the CSC site provides no reference to job tasks that remotely involve tasks associated with Paramedics. Unless of course Paramedics are now doing x ray security scans of patients like security folks in airports.
About the only connection is they have recruited from a school training paramedics, as they have also done from universities and other entities; 5,000 in all.
The CSC function seems to be the purity of security services, period.
Methinks that the Union folks are reading the wrong tea leaves again making up stories that simply do not exist.
Events like the Olympics provide outstanding channels of experience to add to their resumes to qualify for future jobs. Unions should be happy about that. CUPE is clearly in the wrong here.
happy
2 years ago
Scabs huh
I thought the term "scab" referred to persons who took the jobs of Union types while they were on strike.
The paramedics are not on strike.
The students will not be paid.
No CUPE members will be displaced or suffer monetary loss.
The students will return to school after the Games are over.
Another perfect example of why the general public rolls their eyes whenever CUPE sees a conspiracy unfolding.
Jim Sinclair was wise not to return phone calls on this one.
max von smartt
2 years ago
I am a Free Speech Zone
BC will be sold to the world as the ultimate destination and investment; the rifraff will be marginalized, peppersprayed, skulls cracked with batons, whatever it takes to sell sell sell OMG!!!
bike-anarchist
2 years ago
Volunteers?
This work isn't a Rotory bake sale, or the Mighty Mites T-ball bingo fund raiser! It blows my mind how brainwashed students can become when told "invaluable experience" when low-balled to the point of no wages to do important work that deals with peoples' lives.
Pay them, and pay them appropriately!
I used to be a member (1997-2001) of a volunteer fire dept., and I was blown away at the lack of support our municipality was willing to give us, or prov./fed government for that matter. Insurance? Nope. Can't budget this year for it, so every single one of you are liable for your actions, so pay individually out of your pocket. Nominal recompense for the service to the community such as a tax break, if we can't get paid for our call outs? What? You must be joking!
I am sick and tired of hearing of 'volunteers' doing important work that needs to be paid, for nothing.
Simple Simon
2 years ago
General Strike in support of BC's Paramedics!!
I think we're all sick and tired of the way our Government thinks it can treat the people who ACTUALLY SAVE OUR LIVES.
Islandmedic
2 years ago
Some Facts
We were legislated (forced) a contract whilst voting on an offer. Bill 21 was enacted on the basis of Vanoc demanding the strike be settled. First time in Canadian history the right to vote on a contract offer has been removed with a Bill. Security work is not clinical experience for paramedic students. Someone lied to them or lied to the public. Vanoc(IOC) is not held to any labour laws of the host nation.
mcgregory
2 years ago
Extra help might be good.
It might be good to have extra help around should the worse happen and we have a catastrophic event happen. I realize that all possible contingencies are being considered, but with the type of people that are being drawn to this event, who knows what could happen.
Meme2121
2 years ago
Taking on-the-job training away
I completely understand why CUPE would hate to see students come in and do a job for free that they will except to be paid more to do. It is unbelievable that they would try to take free on-the-job training away from students that will one day be part of their union and will be taking their jobs anyway. Back in the day when the union was needed for fair employments standards is over and the continued use of unions today is simply hurting the Canadian economy. Case and Point GM! Continues wage increases in a time of depression are unbelievable and selfish. How does it make you feel to know that communist countries such as Cuba have less unemployment then Canada? That is what you can think about next time your setting on the picket line demanding a wage increase.
W Laurier
2 years ago
Sure, Simon
So just when is that General Strike? How many are we planning this week?
Ahhh, CUPE 15, the best ally the Liberals ever had!
mcgregory
2 years ago
Better be prepared
I'm actually starting to get worried. I'm beginning to think that maybe there has been a serious warning about a major event happening during the games. We have all the regular security, plus 4,500 Canadian troops, plus 6,000 American troops amassed at the border with all their backups and command centers. Now we have a lot of extra paramedics, and all the hospitals on standby. We know that the security at Vancouver airport is woefully inadequate, and that criminal gangs have smuggled automatic weapons and even rocket launchers into BC. I hope all goes well, but I'm also getting worried about areas surrounding the Olympics.
trauma_junkie
2 years ago
Interesting Dilemna
I wonder what will happen if there is an incident at a venue where these " security student " are volunteering, ie.; a medical emergency. Are the students going to do nothing and wait for the designated first responders and other medical response teams or are they going to start to do what they have been going to school for ? I know what my money would be betting on ...And yes, bcas is not on strike ( thanks to having a contract jammed down their throats while the union was actually voting on an offer) They are still in a job action, and the students should perhaps take it upon themselves to find out more info on what is really going on here. I would bet my pension that what the students are being told to do (off the record) and what their administration is saying on the record are two entirely different things, Also, have these students gone thru VANOC's security clearance checks.. I understand that this is a lengthy process and can take up to 6 months, interesting if they have ... or are they being "waved thru" (what does this say for the actual security of the games )?> The students need to take a long hard look and see if they really want to be involved in this fracas, I am sure they will be looked at with a rather jaundiced view by union demonstrators who will certainly be at these games in large numbers. Just a couple of thoughts on this :) .
Frank
2 years ago
Meme2121
You're upset at GM workers? At least those people produce things.
I guess you're a big fan of the $14.4 billion Morgan Stanley is paying out in bonuses and such this year? What exactly did Morgan Stanley produce last year besides a financial meltdown?
As for Cuba, why wouldn't they have a lower unemployment rate than Canada? They value their citizens more than we value ours.
happy
2 years ago
Couple of points
1) GM workers are under a wage freeze as I understand it.
2) Cuba has some good points but if they value their citizens so much how come they won't allow them to travel outside the country? Its a prison like N Korea.
Frank
2 years ago
happy
Ever been to Cuba? Its not exactly hell on earth. Whereas Mexico might not be either but its in the same postal code.
Kindersley, Saskatchewan isn't exactly a picnic either which explains why no one goes there, its a place people come from.
happy
2 years ago
Frank
Cuba could be a paradise if its citizens were free to make choices you and I take for granted.
Kindersley eh. Do they take their old time religion seriously there too like some other small Sask towns I'm more familiar with?
Frank
2 years ago
happy
You'd love Kindersley, the Yellowhead highway is the main street and its solidly Conservative federally and provincially.
As for Cuba, I just don't compare it with Canada, I compare it to other countries in its peer group such as Mexico, Jamaica and so on. Compared to them Cuba is a darn nice place.
As to whether I think they should be allowed to come and go, well of course they should. I was a fan of glasnost after all :)
Frank
2 years ago
happy
You'd love Kindersley, the Yellowhead highway is the main street and its solidly Conservative federally and provincially.
As for Cuba, I just don't compare it with Canada, I compare it to other countries in its peer group such as Mexico, Jamaica and so on. Compared to them Cuba is a darn nice place.
As to whether I think they should be allowed to come and go, well of course they should. I was a fan of glasnost after all.
happy
2 years ago
Frank
Kindersley sounds boring actually. Good folks though I'm sure.
I had a funny thought. Maybe De Gaulle should have gone to Havana and shouted "Vive le Cuba libre!"
Instead he came here and graced us...
lovemyjob
2 years ago
It isn't always what it seems!
OK so the students wouldn't technically be "scabs" since the pay thing isn't there, however that's the point! why should some paramedics get paid and others just "volunteer" their professionally trained job????? Oh wait I'm wrong they are being brought here for security. Now how does security and these students careers to be go together. I don't object to volunteering, I was looking into myself. But I didn't have a place to stay as the FIRST criteria, so forget it. I have been a paramedic for almost 18 years. FYI half my paycheck is non-pensionable income or let see call it "TIPS" for being ready to provide our service for about 84 hours a week of being ready! I don't need a pay increase just a real paying position! IT doesn't even have to be full time. So who ever think we "just" want pay increase, do some more research, please.
happy
2 years ago
lovemyjob
Thats just the thing though. Nowhere in this article does it state the students will be doing parmedic work. In fact it states the opposite.
"A media spokesperson for Contemporary Security said that union concerns about the student volunteers were based on a misunderstanding. The Ottawa students would have no first responder responsibilities at all, she told The Tyee late in the day on Jan. 20."
That seems pretty black and white to me. As pointed out there will be thousands of student volunteers. They weren't "recruited" based on what they are studying so that they could be used as unpaid dupes to take jobs away from working people. Thats ridiculous beyond the extreme but thats what CUPE is known for.
I would encourage you and your co-workers to look into forming a Professional Association and dump CUPE.
RickW
2 years ago
mcgregory
Well, they cancelled some 2500 surgeries just in case a "catastrophic event" happens........
trauma_junkie
2 years ago
I completely understand why
I completely understand why CUPE would hate to see students come in and do a job for free that they will except to be paid more to do. It is unbelievable that they would try to take free on-the-job training away from students that will one day be part of their union
Ha! For starters, they are doing "security work" which has nothing to do with paramedic work (allegedly) Second, we are fighting for a fair and equitable raise to bring us on par with Police and Fire Dept's...Is this so much to ask for ? Are we not worth it ? Do I not deserve to make the same money as a fireman ? As well,we are fighting for wages that will benefit these students down the road! Do you not get it at all ? Pull your righteous head outta your heiney and see the big picture here! I will also point out that the police and security forces have been billeted on 2 cruise ships! Fire Dept's also have accomodations, while Paramedics are expected to fight and claw their way up the sea-to-sky at their own expense, have their own place to stay at, and have no proper winter clothing to stay warm while sitting at these venues for hours on end! The Police are paid meal allowances, have paid-for babysitting, have been paid to do all their scenarios,and can work o/t on their days off @double time ! And yet, we, as a group are supposed to volunteer...I have 3 kids , I cannot afford what it would cost me personally to work these games, ferry travel,($100 round trip) gas to whistler, pay for my own meals @ whistler prices...the list goes on. Am I to pauper my household so I can "volunteer" for these games ?If there is an event @ these games, it will be an unmitigated disaster because there has been little or no training in scenarios to co-ordinate a multi-casualty incident with other emergency services as well as hospitals,CSIS,Canadian Forces, Police, Fire. What could go wrong???? So if (when) things go horribly wrong at these games, don't blame the Paramedics, blame the prov. gov't for not having settled this fairly waaaaay ahead of time, blame BCAS management and administration for not adequately preparing for these games in all areas. Hope the security forces do a reaaaaaaly good job there so that the Paramedics don't have to. And just to finish this post off ... I would think that any student found to be working at these games would have a challenging time trying to acquire a union card to be employed with BCAS. Good luck on that one ! Peace
happy
2 years ago
t_j
What do you mean "supposed to volunteer"?
I don't even see CUPE making that claim anywhere. If you don't want to, don't. Its that simple.
If you feel you're being pushed pull out the Canada Labor Code. You can't be made to do unpaid work.
Its against the law.
I would have thought your Union rep would have been able to explain that to you.
trauma_junkie
2 years ago
not so happy
Hey , way to take what i said out of context !! "supposed to volunteer" in the sense that we are not getting paid and yet police and fire are ... THEY are not volunteering THAT is my point... maybe you should have a union rep explain that to YOU!
happy
2 years ago
?
Your right, I don't understand and I don't really feel like going back and forth like a ping pong ball with you on this one so I suggest you just take my advice. Don't volunteer.
How hard is that?
I think this is more a case of hurt feelings that you aren't considered as essential as the others you mentioned.
You can get over it or you can take your skills to another employer, no ones stopping you. That would show Gordo wouldn't it.
But we both know that isn't going to happen.
SicPreFix
2 years ago
Semantics and Word Choice
Perhaps what trauma_junkie means is "expected" to volunteer. That quite specifically carries a different meaning than does "obligated".
Expected, as in relating to the idea of looking ahead to something in the future, i.e., to expect is to look forward to the likely occurrence of something. So, not an obligation nor a requirement, but an action expected, i.e., an action preferred by the powers that be.
At any rate, that is how I read tj's comment.
And, I think tj's complaint is a fair complaint. Why should such important service providers as paramedics be expected to volunteer if fire fighters and police are not?
happy
2 years ago
No one is "expected" to volunteer
Nice oxymoron though.
I'm sure IF such a request went to the paras it would be worded "asked" to volunteer. And if such request was made lets see it.
Lets get real. If they were expected to volunteer you think CUPE would just sit back and say "Well, your expected to work for nothing brothers and sisters, you should do it to help Gordo look good at the Olympics"
In our dreams. They would take immense pleasure in "declining" to put it politely.
Daniel
2 years ago
Isn’t this the same Union
Isn’t this the same Union that donated to the Liberals an election or two ago? I can remember talking to a paramedic about bills 28 and 29 a few years back, and how the he thought the Liberals were doing a splendid job. Apparently this was a sentiment shared by many of his colleagues by the way, his words not mine. I’ll never forget the shit eating grin on his face as I told him I was one of those health care workers impacted by bill 29. ……All depends whose Ox is being gored in this province.
Sask Resident
2 years ago
Frank and Kindersley
The Yellowhead highway is no where near Kindersley, but you are correct that the area is represented by Conservatives, both federally and provincially. And their fire department did a wonderful job of saving the Rec Center when the old, wooden attached arena burned down a few weeks ago.
As for CUPE, they seem ready and willing to cut off their members' noses to spit their faces. At all Olympics in western countries, they need and use tremendous amount of free labour, also called volunteers. Many 1988 Calgary volunteers are glad they did it but a few regret it. Complaining about volunteers doesn't help anyone.
Most First Responders are volunteers across Canada while Paramedics are paid. I would assume that the students would volunteer to put their training into use if necessary as any good samaritan would. For a paramedic to be upset indicates that he needs to be in another line of work.
trauma_junkie
2 years ago
one last time
I think this is more a case of hurt feelings that you aren't considered as essential as the others you mentioned.
Lol, it would be interesting to say the least, to see who would be considered "essential" in the event of a major incident, where 10's if not 100's of people require medical aid who would triage ,treat, transport these people to the major trauma centres to receive the best care possible ? The Police? The Fire Dept? Security Guard students ? I think not ...Anyone who does not see that BCAS is going to be the tip of the spear on this scenario is erroneous in the extreme! At that point, NOBODY would be MORE ESSENTIAL... and as to teh argument over expected vs obligated... allow me me last kick at the can to try and explain to you exactly what i meant >< Simply, Police and FIre are paid and paid well to be there, with all the trimmings.BCAS, is (Hoping/EXPECTING/requesting/dreaming)that we volunteer! Certainly, we would all love to participate in this showcase to our homeland that we all love so much, but do you not see it as a slap in the face as I do to all Paramedics ? Seriously? The only people who know what we do in this province are those that have needed us. The rest really have no idea.We dont try and jump in front of news cameras, we don't really talk to the media,when the news cameras DO show up, we are already gone, caring and treating and transporting someones loved one to the hospital, doing our best for them EVERY SINGLE TIME! Shame on this gov't for not showing us a little respect for what we do (forced contract with no meaningful raise/ again. no equity with olympic packages offerred to police and fire)
trauma_junkie
2 years ago
As to volunteering
Btw I did not volunteer, ( couldn't if I wanted to )
I would love to participate but simply put, I cant afford it. Neither can most of the other paramedics when u factor in travel expenses, accomodations,meals ect.Its too much.Also let me remind you that most Paramedics in this province have volunteered their time in their communities for 10 years + ! Do you think that it is lucritive to work in Tahsis or Sechelt, or Port Wherever? Believe me its not >< We were on call for free,(No alcohol, staying close to the station, drop what you are doing with your family to respond) making no money unless we were called... often I went weeks with out a call, being on call in small, low call volume communities is difficult and yet we do it, because we are needed. Again the general public has NO IDEA what we have gone through to get to where we are today
Kam Lee
2 years ago
trauma_junkie is right!
People, listen to the trama_junkie, he is so right. This government, corupt beyond all reason, is trying to break every union in BC. The drunk womenizer gordo is a creepy little man. Get rid of him and his minions, that includes all his drug dealer buddies, and we would have a sucessful province. Remeber all the lies he has pulled on us? All you righties, remember that please. Open your eyes, if you don't agree agree, may I send my share of the cost of this 5 ring circus to you? That would be fair.
salty dog
2 years ago
Gordon Campbell`s confession!
http://bctrialofbasi-virk.blogspot.com/
Cheers
Schnoodle
2 years ago
Volunteers vs Scabs
When these students grow up and enter the real world of working for a living they probably won't appreciate "volunteers' doing their jobs when they experience labour difficulties with their employers. Somebody should let these students know that they too will expect a fair day's pay for a fair day's work.
Per contra
2 years ago
How stupid do you think the readers are
What a load of fertilizer, sorry Tom Sandborn why manufacture a story out of nothing, can't you find any real news.
First you imply through a third party that the students are being hired for first responders.
Then you say that the only source that has responded to inquires has clearly indicated that the students are not being hired as first responders. Then you say you read the letter, yet instead of including it in your article so the public can read it and make their own judgement, you decide against that. Humm maybe the letter does not support what you are saying.
But I do understand the unions and your point of view "if something really bad happens (Lets hope not)and the parametics are swamped with hundreds or thousands of injuried people, the last thing you want is several hundred extra people trained in first aid at the site. It would be better for those injured people to suffer or die to prove a point.
Misinformation is so much more reliable than the truth, until it bites you.