Unions angered over back-to-work legislation

The Gold Pan’s Labour Council is speaking out after the recent Liberal government decision to impose Bill 21 against B.C. paramedics.

“Bill 21, the Ambulance Services Collective Agreement Act, is the end of a free and fair collective agreement for the unionized workers of CUPE Local 873,” Quesnel and District Labour Council president Robert Leclerc said.

Tuesday, the paramedic debate heated up after the Liberals moved to impose a contract on paramedics and dispatchers on the eve of a membership vote on their latest contract offer.

B.C.’s 3,600 paramedics and dispatchers were scheduled to vote

Friday on the latest

offer from the B.C. Ambulance Service, until government stepped in, imposing terms until March 31, 2010.

Those terms include a three per cent wage increase retroactive to last April, when the strike began.

“Essentially government is saying ‘we don’t care how you vote,’” Cariboo North MLA Bob Simpson said.

“No government has ever said ‘this is how it’s going to be’ before the agreement has even been voted on.”

A memo from the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee (VANOC) is said to be the source behind the Liberal’s decision.

The memo, from Dr. Mike Wilkinson, to the BC Ambulance Service and other government officials was obtained by the Observer. In it it states:

“Vanoc medical services (and thus the IOC) requires definitive confirmation by Oct, 1, 2009 that all required ambulance services will be provided as planned.

“These services include the ability to engage the VPCS and the BCAS members in full venue planning as soon as possible.

“This confirmation must also include a guarantee that no services during the Games will be disrupted or reduced from what has been planned.

“If we are unable to obtain that guarantee (through either settlement of the strike, or a legislated “detente” for the Games) then VANOC will be required to initiate alternate contingency plans to avoid cancellation of the Games.”

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“It shows the only thing this government cares about is the Olympics, especially when we are experiencing bad economic times and issues like the 535 workers being laid off in Kitamat,” Leclerc said.

“Why is this government taking directions from VANOC? Bill 21 does not support a good labour relations practice.”

Simpson points to the contract end date of March 31, 2010 as mere “weeks after the Olympics and then they’re back to square one.”

Just as troubling, he added is Health Services Minister Kevin Falcon’s initial reasoning for government’s decision to impose Bill 21.

Falcon argued the situation has become urgent with the onset of H1N1 pandemic influenza and a paramedic management team that is exhausted from covering extensive absences by staff and on-call paramedics during the dispute. 

“No where in his speech did he mention the Olympics,” Simpson said.

“It wasn’t until pressed did he admit they were a factor.”

Simpson added a full inquiry to address all issues with a binding arbitrator would resolve issues.

“They don’t have to ram the collective agreement down their throats,” he said.

B.C. Liberal house leader Mike de Jong said the B.C. legislature will extend its sitting into Friday and even the weekend if necessary to force the contract extension on paramedics.

The government intends the legislated contract be passed before the house adjourns for next week’s Remembrance Day events, de Jong told reporters Thursday morning.

NDP leader Carole James said her party will oppose the back-to-work legislation and vote against it.

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