Photo: Rob Kruyt/file photo
UPDATE 11:15 a.m
BC Ambulance Paramedics president Troy Clifford says the proposed agreement with the BC Healthcare Employers Association will lead to a renewed commitment to the ambulance service, paramedics, dispatchers and patients.
“This new agreement will help provide a significant foundation for improving paramedic services in British Columbia and one that recognizes the uniqueness of our service and the challenges facing our profession,” Clifford said.
Although he could not disclose details of the agreement, he is optimistic that it will be ratified.
“I’m really sure that we went with this planned duty model that was a failure in the last round of negotiations or in the last collective bargaining agreement,” he said.
“Over the last few years it has not met the needs of these communities, so I am very confident that we have been able to negotiate the transition from this previous model to a new model that will meet these challenges in delivering services in remote and rural areas.”
Clifford says they have also been able to address many recruitment and retention issues that will make BC EMS more competitive with other ambulance services and private employers.
Union president praises mediator Vince Reddy.
“I don’t believe we would have been able to make the progress we’ve made without his help,” Clifford said.
He says it will take time to organize ratification votes for paramedics and dispatchers across the province. More details will be released in the coming weeks.
ORIGINAL 10:15 am
The Health Employers Association of British Columbia has reached a tentative new collective agreement with the Paramedics and Ambulance Dispatchers Bargaining Association.
The deal was struck late Friday with the help of veteran broker Vince Reddy.
No details are being made public at this time.
“Out of respect for the ratification process, which requires both parties to return the preliminary agreement to their respective members to ensure broad support, the parties committed to keeping the details of the preliminary agreement confidential,” a joint statement said.
No word yet on when the ratification vote will take place. The joint statement also thanked the mediator.
“Both parties at the table expressed their appreciation to Mr. Reddy and the respectful tone of these negotiations to reach an agreement that supports patient care and meets the priorities of both parties and the Department of Health.”
The union representing paramedics and dispatchers has been calling for a better deal for its members for several months.
In November, CUPE Local 873 launched a media and public awareness campaign called “Be the Alarm.” The union said more than 11,000 people have signed a petition demanding the BC government fix the province’s troubled ambulance service.
“It’s encouraging to see so many people across the province sign this petition,” said BC Ambulance Paramedics and Dispatchers president Troy Clifford. it is even available in their community.
“In the midst of an unprecedented staffing crisis, ambulances are sitting empty across the province and we are seeing the effects of understaffing and low wages now more than ever,” he noted.
Last year there were a number of cases of people in rural communities having to wait much longer than normal for emergency medical care due to a combination of staff shortages and ambulances being pulled from one area to cover another community, often several kilometers.
Late last year, Clifford also struggled to restore three ambulances that were added to Kelowna’s contingent during the pandemic after they were temporarily cut.
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