(22 MAY 2019, ST. JOHN’S, NL) THE PROVINCIAL DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS DELIBERATELY FORCING ambulance workers to choose between civic responsibility and their personal right to fair working conditions, Richard Gill, President of Teamsters’ Union Local 855 said today, reiterating a point he made earlier this month when the issue first came to light. The Teamsters represent 170 private ambulance emergency medical services (EMS) personnel in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Gill said that last Fall, in good faith, the Local 855 negotiated an 18-month collective agreement on behalf of its members with private ambulance operators. This was timed to coincide with government-announced changes to the paramedicine delivery model and to related legislation scheduled to take effect o1 April 2020.
He pointed out that Government has been sitting on two reports on emergency medical services in this province, the Fitch Report which was released in 2013, and the Grant Thornton audit of June 2018, both of which identified unfair labor practises. “They’ve had six years to comply with the Provincial Procurement Act and initiate change, instead Government continues to extend these ‘contracts of convenience’ to operators at the expense of workers,” Gill said.
“Now we understand that officials from the Department of Health have informed the Paramedics Association of Newfoundland and Labrador that Government will not honour its schedule to restructure the provincial emergency medical service by that date,” he said. “Instead, they are unilaterally extending their timeline by 24 months.”
Gill said their main demand is simple and follows best practises across Canada. “All Government has to do is designate paramedics as essential workers,” he said. “Government can do that at any time and still continue to reconfigure the emergency medical service delivery model. Instead, without any consultation, they have extended the contract once again.”
Due to this failure by Government to honour its commitment on behalf of EMS personnel, Gill said the
Local’s 170 EMS members could be poised to take strike action by April 1, 2020.
Hubert Dawe is Teamsters Local 855’s Business Agent for ambulance workers. He said today that many paramedics are torn between responsibility to their communities and their ability to endure unfair working conditions. “The current system preys on this feeling of responsibility,” said Dawe. “The provincial Government’s indecision creates an ethical dilemma. ‘Do we strike or do we quit?’”
“I have been hearing a lot of frustration from members,” said Dawe. “Many workers are wanting to throw in the towel after hearing the confirmed rumours that government wants to impose the status quo for an additional two years.” He pointed out that their members were promised change last September when Government extended its existing contracts with private operators.
Gill said Government needs to act immediately if it has any regard for the rights of EMS workers and the health of emergency services in the province. “We don’t want anything complicated. Our members just want to be designated essential workers,” said Gill.
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CONTACT INFORMATION
Rick Gill, President, Teamsters Union Local 855, Cel: (709) 682-0012 email: rgill@teamstersl855.com
Hubert Dawe, Business Agent, Health Care Division, Teamsters Union Local 855, Cel: (709) 727- 0610 email: hdawe@teamstersl855.com