THE BRITISH COLUMBIA AMBULANCE SERVICE paramedics have been undertaking a job action since April 1 (see Firegeezer report HERE). While they have been continuing to answer emergency calls and provide care, they have been refusing to do any administrative paperwork and not accepting any voluntary overtime assignments.
The Omega staff photo
They have been picketing in front of selected stations and at the regional administrative offices. Next they are planning to launch a public advertising campaign to point out to the citizens that they are among the lowest-paid paramedics in the country. The part-time and on-call medics are only paid $2 an hour.
It appears that they are successfully reaching the citizens as evidenced by this article running in the Thompson River University students’ newspaper HERE.
On Thursday the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) issued THIS press release announcing that the provincial minister of health has agreed to bring in a mediator to help settle the impasse.
You can read more in the Penticton Western News HERE.
The BC Ambulance paramedics union has also been running an informative website aimed at the public called “Save Our Paramedics.” You can CLICK HERE to view it.
