Calgary Paramedics Union Cautiously Optimistic
June 6th, 2007 posted by WillsMomPremier Ed Stelmach is on the same page as Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier. Both want the paramedics to be declared an essential service, preventing them from being able to strike.
Bruce Robb, president of paramedic union, isn’t surprised by the timing. He says it’s no coincidence that this comes when the union is negotiating with the city for a new contract.
Talks between the two began in earnest this past Monday.
Stelmach’s position is based on the fact that paramedics fall under the health field.
“I’ve believed in that position for a number of years, because I do believe, like police, fire, EMS is an essential service. Calgarians rely upon it. They expect if they call 911 for an emergency to have an ambulance respond,” Bronconnier said.
He asked the province to make the declaration over 6 years ago.
Robb, who has been trying to a new deal for the past 11 months, doesn’t feel that there is any issue with the current process.
“The current process works for everybody. It forces you to negotiate, rather than arbitrate.”
The paramedic union last voted to strike, and carried it through, back in 1991. Their strike lasted for 10 days before reaching a deal. They again walked off the job in the beginning of 1992 when the city council refused the agreement.
Despite the talk of revising the legislation for the definition of essential to include the paramedics, Robb is remaining optimistic with the talks.
Source: Calgary Herald
