Trumpy To Head Probe of Ambulance Service Bargaining Structure

By 250 News

An Industrial Inquiry Commission has been appointed under the B.C. Labour Relations Code to examine the B.C. ambulance service, led by Chris Trumpy, a former B.C. deputy minister of finance.

In addition to an examination of the collective bargaining structure in the ambulance service, a number of items specifically requested by the union local representing paramedics and dispatchers have been incorporated in the commission's terms of reference. These are: staff recruitment, training and retention; staff workload and occupational health and safety issues; and deployment strategies in comparison with other Canadian ambulance service delivery models.

The commission will also investigate and report on paramedic compensation across Canadian jurisdictions.

Labour Minister Murray  Coell  expressed concern regarding reports the union local would not participate in the commission process. "It was the local that initially suggested the need for the IIC," Coell said. "I  would encourage them to reconsider the decision and join in this process to help identify and expedite options to fix the broken collective bargaining structure that might guide the next round of negotiation."

Coell also announced the date for the commission to report back to  government is Jan. 15, 2010.

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