Should NSW ambo's strike?

[aussiephil]

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22314779-29277,00.html

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22325965-1702,00.html

The NSW government had proved bloody minded in this.

But should ambulance officers & paramedics be allowed to strike?

[Timmy]

I think you guys should! This APEC thing sounds like more damn trouble than what its worth. 88 Bucks a week! What a joke! Vic ambos have striked a few time, they always get what they want (most of the time). Do it!

[spenac]

Strike, strike, strike. Of course as a yank from a right to work state, if I strike they just hire someone new. Guess all of us face a lot more crap than we should since we are there to help people.

[sladey67]

I think you will find that the APEC issue is not a strike as quoted in the media. Most of the additional staffing required for this event is being provided by officers working overtime shifts. What was being touted was officers NOT working these overtime shifts (and they can't be forced to do so) thereby placing the Ambulance Service in the embarrassing position of not being to fulfill it's APEC staffing committments.

I don't think we will ever strike. This would disadvantage the community and erode the goodwill that our profesion has generated. We can make our point just as effectively by other means.

[WendyT]

Calgary EMS - Strike notice served

Evans aims to halt EMS action

By Shawn Logan

Calgary Sun

July 24, 2007

Paramedics could walk away from their ambulances Thursday, but the province's industry minister says a strike will likely be headed off by the appointment of a special panel to resolve the dispute.

Dozens of EMS workers, backed by other unions, had pickets at city hall yesterday just before union boss Bruce Robb officially delivered 72 hours strike notice to the city, setting the stage for a labour showdown that has forced the province to intercede.

The notice would allow paramedics to walk off the job at 1 p.m. Thursday, but Iris Evans said she expects her cabinet colleagues will back her request to declare a public emergency and appoint a tribunal to force both sides to hammer out a deal.

"We can't compromise that service and I'm sure by the time I take it to cabinet, they'll be on board," she said.

"Depriving citizens of this service compromises health and safety."

Calgary's 425 paramedics have been at loggerheads with the city over wages, seeking a 30% raise over three years while being offered 12% over the same period.

Robb, president of Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 3421, said he expects the province will step in, but there was no choice but to take the dispute to the brink to find some common ground for their concerns.

[WendyT]

Fri, July 20, 2007 CALGARY ALBERTA CANADA

EMS set to issue strike notice

UPDATED: 2007-07-20 15:44:10 MST

By BILL KAUFMANN, SUN MEDIA

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 are expected to issue their 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 their 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 that the union’s demands are too rich for taxpayers.

[War medic]

It is unfortunate that ambulance crews are forced to consider strike action. If the public and government dont understand the conditions and work stresses that paramedics face, what other options do we have to have our concerns voiced. Certainly the world would sit up and take notice after just 1 day of strike action but because of the devastation it would cause and deaths that would be related, it goes against what we believe.

[BushyFromOz]

Phil, what has the HSU been doing in the 2 years it took for the Carr/Iemma tea party to get back to you??

You guys need a union like the FBEU. Theres only two organisations that have really held the government to ransom on pay demands, the dock workers and NSW fire brigades

[OzMedic]

You cockroachs aren't worth the money you get now let alone ask for more!

[BushyFromOz]

You cockroachs aren't worth the money you get now let alone ask for more!

Says the toad...

Whats going on Oz, long time no see??