CBC News
Copyright 2007 Voxant, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Copyright 2007 CBC
All Rights Reserved
CALGARY, AB. — Alberta’s employment minister has appointed an Edmonton lawyer to help the City of Calgary and its paramedics reach a new contract.
If the two sides can’t reach a settlement by Aug. 15, lawyer and negotiations expert David Jones will step in to arbitrate a deal, acting as a one-man public emergency tribunal.
If the two groups still haven’t reached an agreement by by the end of September, Jones will impose a contract.
Government spokeswoman Lorelei Fiset-Cassidy says whatever happens, paramedics will not be walking off the job.
“This effectively will bring about an end to the labour dispute and will bring about a contract so there is no future risk of this dispute having the paramedics walking off the job. I just think that’s important for Calgarians to know.”
The provincial government declared a public emergency after the union representing 440 ambulance workers issued a 72-hour strike notice on Monday.
The union, whose contract expired in June 2006, can’t agree with the city on wages and shift differential. The union is asking for an 18 per cent wage hike over three years. The city says the highest it can go is 12 percent.