By Bill Kaufmann
Calgary Sun
Copyright 2007 Sun Media Corporation
All Rights Reserved
CALGARY, AB. — City paramedics say they’ll issue a strike notice early next week after rejecting the city’s invitation to voluntary binding arbitration.
Union spokeswoman Rina Campus said a 99% strike mandate from members means they can’t accept the city’s offer.
“It’s too little, too late -- they should have done it when talks broke off a month ago,” said Campus.
“We’re going to continue on with our course of action.”
The union will hold an information picket at city hall on Monday and is expected to issue its 72-hour strike notice soon after that.
But the province is expected to respond by declaring an emergency and sending the dispute to binding arbitration.
Union president Bruce Robb said they’re under no illusions about how the deadlock will work out.
“At the end of the day, we will likely end up in an arbitration process,” he said.
The impasse centres over the union’s demand for an 18% wage hike over three years -- 30% according to the city, which has offered a 12% increase.
City spokeswoman Vickie Megrath said the city is disappointed at the union’s rejection of its arbitration offer.
“It would ensure we’d have ambulances on the streets to ensure Calgarians aren’t at risk,” she said.
A contingency plan has been set up by the city to operate some ambulances using paramedic management staff in the event of a walkout, although Megrath said it won’t be a full substitute for its 425 EMS workers.
“We know we can’t reproduce the current level of service but we will be able to address emergency calls ... they’re fully-trained and qualified paramedics,” she said.
Campus said any level of response the city’s contingency plan delivers would be a risk to public safety.
“Two paramedics versus one paramedic in an ambulance -- you just have to take that for what it is,” she said, adding paramedics are hard-pressed as it is keeping up with Calgary’s growing call volume.
No new talks are planned between the city and paramedics who have been without a contract for one year.
The union says it’s seeking wage parity with other emergency service staff, arguing there’s a $6-an-hour gap.
But the city contends its offer reflects that accepted by most of its other workers and believes the union’s demands are too rich for taxpayers.