Alberta Gov't forces EMS workers into HSAA

[CanMan]

I've just received this e-mail:

Brother and Sisters,

Even though you can not provide the paramedics with the "professional" help most of them need, nor can we equip them all with helmets, you can provide your support by being present tomorrow morning at a Rally walking from the Crowne Plaza hotel at 1130 to the Legislature grounds.

The concern facing the paramedics is the government stated today that they are canceling their current contract which they originally stated they would honor until it expires in 2010. They are preventing them from staying with CUPE and removing their choice of union forcing them under the HSAA umbrella where they lose the right to represent themselves and will be lumped in with all other technical hospital staff such as lab techs, LPN's and xray techs.

Paramedics want the right to choose their union, they want their contract honored and they want the government to recognize the special needs of our profession. With this change they stand to lose their supplemental pension, their health benefits will change and possibly be reduced. Wages will be moved over but higher paid EMT's may stand to see their wages frozen until such time as they match the pay step in the HSAA agreement.

1130am MARCH 19 @ Crowne Plaza hotel downtown!!! Join them and show your support. Thanks in advance from all your friendly neighborhood paramedics.

There was also a short report on Global Edmonton about this.

[northernmedic]

This is every government's dream. Now you can lump EMS in with all the other allied health and not address any specific issues such as supp. pensions etc. This is exactly what happened here to the BC sherriff's service and it has not worked out well. We are in the midst of a bitter contract dispute here in BC and I wouldn't put it past the government to try something similar. Good luck in your fight in Alberta, hopefully you guys can get a decent contract and don't end up with wage rollbacks and such.

[volley1]

Sorry guys but isn't this a fire site....... Beat it! I'm sure there's a paramedic site somewhere's.

[dirkjaniak]

Sorry guys but isn't this a fire site....... Beat it! I'm sure there's a paramedic site somewhere's.

WTF... volley1!! Ever heard about integrated services?? You know, those are departments that do both EMS AND Fire and the ambulance take over actually effects fire dispatcher in Alberta and it's probably going to effect first responders as well.
It is also very interesting from a union point of view.
So volley1, if you are not interested in EMS or paramedics then maybe next time read the headline and DO NOT OPEN the Thread o.k!!

Cheers,

DJ

[dirkjaniak]

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Health/Alberta+paramedics+plan+launch+court+challenge+aga inst+government/1410859/story.html

[RugbyCanada]

Sorry guys but isn't this a fire site....... Beat it! I'm sure there's a paramedic site somewhere's.

BWAHAHHAHAHA!!!!!!

Quote of the week right there!!!! Yer probably gonna get a 150 "what a dick" comments, but I still think its funny as all hell!

Awesome dude!! lol

Cheers,

RC

[TruckCo11]

BWAHAHHAHAHA!!!!!!

Quote of the week right there!!!! Yer probably gonna get a 150 "what a dick" comments, but I still think its funny as all hell!

Awesome dude!!


We'll remember that the next time some volley posts on a union thread. Oh, wait; they already did.

[ladderman]

Well the sooner Alberta takes over all Ambulances the better.

That is also the funniest thing ever....

[itsnotahobby]

If I'm not mistaken aren't the "Paramedicks" in Ontario in CUPE? I believe they are here in the Niagara Region anyway. I know that they have the Ontario Paramedic Association, but I think they are in CUPE.

[iekvek]

Well the sooner Alberta takes over all Ambulances the better.

That is also the funniest thing ever....

Why do you say that? Can you qualify the comment and elaborate your perspective?

[ladderman]

Well just my opinion.
People would work for Alberta Health.
No borders for service.
Better health care.
Rural small towns get needed service
Equal training for all staff
Fair union

Just my 2 cents

I do not have the answers either

[iekvek]

ladderman,

gotcha. Just saw there was no other perspective; good, bad or indifferent.

[FireEMTGuy]

It is a tough situation for all of the Alberta Health current and future EMS employees. It is true that EMS is definately unique from lab techs, x-ray techs, etc and a seperate union with it's own execuctive should be running the union side of things.

I doubt that a executive member of HSAA would be as keen on EMS issues as a seperate EMS union executive member would be.

[Lovethefirebaby]

Brothers,

You do know that the IAFF believes that EMS belongs in the fire service right?

www.iaff.org

[Flatlander]

MD Ambulance IAFF local 3270 - One can only assume they might be able to give you the info you need to get a union that will work for you instead of one that works for the government. IAFF encourages EMS locals to join as they do differ from Fire in some ways but that is only small differences (our trucks are red, theirs are white and orange [I know not all are those colour's], etc... My point is for you EMS guys out there (I used to be one) IAFF is going to be the only union that understands you and knows why you will ask for the things you do in the future.

Good luck!

[npbra]

Well just my opinion.
People would work for Alberta Health.
No borders for service.
Better health care.
Rural small towns get needed service
Equal training for all staff
Fair union

Just my 2 cents

I do not have the answers either


My God, what a load of crap.
1. Alberta Health is a joke at the best of times. They have screwed up the hospital setting and now they are going to totally screw up pre-hospital care.
2. No borders and no service when ambulances leave their areas to cover for others hours away.
3. See #1.
4. Rural towns always had service.
5. Like that is going to happen.
6. The only fair union is one that has the individual area in it's best interests. HSA is province wide local and they don't bargain for the individual nuances of the remote areas.

Alberta Health has already proven that they are so far out of their element with the changes they have made and are clueless about the future of the ambulance service in Alberta.
The most efficent ambulance service has always been a muncipal run one.

[DM613]

I have to admit it's quite annoying when 3 of those are in your face. Kinda hard to aim when your screen is full of blinking red dots. And in a dark map like that, you're a pretty easy target for snipers when your head is covered with those