Ending strike obvious ploy
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Updated: November 04, 2009 3:56 PM
The reasoning behind the province’s decision to impose a contract on the province’s striking paramedics is so transparent, it borders on farcical.
The Liberals are legislating the 3,600 workers back to work with a one-year deal and a three-per cent wage increase retroactive to April 1, the strike’s start.
Health Minister Kevin Falcon says the H1N1 pandemic and disruption to patient care was behind the move.
But due to essential service laws and a labour board ruling, paramedics are working and the public is getting proper care.
The more obvious reason for the imposed contract is the 2010 Winter Olympics.
A memo obtained by the NDP shows that the Vancouver Olympic Committee’s medical officer advised the B.C. government VANOC wants ambulance service guarantees either through a settlement or a “legislated détente”.
Without that guarantee, VANOC was looking at setting up its own emergency transport service; retaining a private ambulance provider from outside B.C.; or recruiting out-of-province volunteers.
It now becomes a little clearer where the government’s priorities lie.
The union has been after binding arbitration to settle the dispute, but the government’s refusal is as good as admitting the paramedics would likely get more than is being forced upon them.
A one-year contract retroactive to April puts the paramedics back in the same position in five months, after the Games are over and the world has gone home.
If the Liberals believe so strongly in this move, why not make it a three-year contract and give B.C. some stability?
This government has positioned itself on a slippery labour slope – one where there might not be anyone to save it when it starts to fall.
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