Photo: Contributed
British Columbia’s paramedics are asking the provincial government to take away their right to strike.
The request comes in the form of a petition under B.C.’s initiative process, the process through which any registered voter can propose a new or amended provincial law, so long as they collect signatures from 10 per cent of registered voters in each of the province’s districts.
The province’s paramedics are using the process to try and get the same collective bargaining rights as firefighters and police officers, rights that include binding arbitration but not the right to strike.
“A lot of people think the right to strike is something important that you want to hang on to,” says Josh Henshaw, the Victoria paramedic who proposed the initiative.
But in the case of the B.C.’s paramedics, Henshaw says that right isn’t really worth a whole lot.
He explains that he and his colleagues currently belong to something called the “facilities bargaining unit.” The unit is a sprawling group of 200 different professions composed largely of hospital support staff like lab technicians and cleaning staff.
“People who don’t have a lot in common with what we do,” Henshaw says.
Paramedics represent only about 10 per cent of that group, giving them a relatively small presence in the unit, and “no real meaningful voice when it comes to bargaining” for their interests.
Through that bargaining group paramedics are tied to the wills of all those other professions, meaning their right to strike exists, but doesn’t offer a lot of practical value.
Becoming part of the Fire and Police Services Bargaining Act, however, would put paramedics on the same footing as other emergency responders. They would give up their right to strike (because they would be deemed an essential service), but have access to binding arbitration.
Binding arbitration, Henshaw explains, is undertaken with the help of an objective mediator, and both sides agree to accept the outcome, no matter what.
It takes unions and the government “out of the equation to a certain degree,” allowing paramedics to continue to work while the process unfolds. That’s something Henshaw says most paramedics would welcome.
“We just want to show up for work,” he says.
As of late January, 795 canvassers were scattered across the province collecting signatures in support of the initiative.
Henshaw has until April 9 2017 to collect the required signatures. If that happens the initiative will move on to either a public vote, or to a bill in parliament.
If it’s successful from there, changes would likely be implemented in 2019, when the province’s paramedics current contract is up.
For more information click here.
All BC Biz Stories
