ALF V1

Edmonton - The Alberta Federation of Labour will be watching the compulsory binding arbitration process forced upon Calgary paramedics by the government.

"When the government established a public emergency tribunal, it effectively took the right to free collective bargaining and the right to strike away from the paramedics," says AFL President Gil McGowan. "It is now the responsibility of the government to ensure that the paramedics get the same level of settlement they would have won had their rights not been amended."

"We are not convinced that a fair settlement is possible through compulsory binding arbitration," says McGowan. "One of the more recent studies comparing freely negotiated contracts with compulsory arbitration awards for teachers found that negotiated contracts had statistically significant larger wage increases."

He was referring to a 2006 study by the Connecticut General Assembly that analyzed settlement methods for municipal and school employees over a 4-year period. In that study, 410 teacher contracts were examined.

"The problem is that arbitration boards tend to be very conservative in their awards," says McGowan. "Arbitration boards can never lead - they can only follow."

McGowan noted that the only real evidence before arbitration boards is past settlements - while future developments remain entirely speculative. Therefore, arbitration boards can never break new ground or properly accommodate periods of rapid growth or high inflation like Alberta is experiencing today.

McGowan also cautioned the government about the effects of a compulsory settlement that did not meet paramedics' economic needs. "There will be long-term labour relations consequences if an unfair settlement is forced upon paramedics," says McGowan. "Higher turnover and lower morale and productivity could be a real problem with an unfair contract."

-30-

For more information call:

Gil McGowan   AFL President   @ 780-218-9888

The suits of silly hall are often silly, but not as often stupid.

They know they don't have to actually negotiate with our world-class paramedics any more than they wish. And they don't.

They know the game, they know the rules and they know the city can't lose, no matter how boneheaded they act.

In fact, they can take a make-believe stand with the paramedics and spin a story about how they're holding the line and cast themselves as principled, fearless guardians of the public purse.

But it's all sizzle and no steak.

The city acts as it does because they know how all the cards will be dealt.

They play their role, they know the paramedics won't suck it up and take chump change in a hotly inflated economy. They know the paramedics will come to the end of the road and vote for a strike.

But it's a strike vote for a strike existing only in theory, but not in practice.

The union takes the vote, will give strike notice and the province will step into the fray, declare an emergency and everything stops with the hit of the Easy Button. The province names an arbitrator who imposes a deal.

And what happens if the provincially appointed arbitrator hands down something better and therefore costlier than the city offers, as is very likely?

The city pinstripes will just shrug their shoulders. Oh well, it's not our fault the paramedics get what they're getting, it's the arbitrator's fault, the all-powerful one named by the province.

And, here's the best part, since it's the provincial arbitrator's fault ... golly gee, turn pockets inside out here ... we need more money to pay the paramedics. We don't have the cash in our budget. Oh me, oh my, the province will have to pony up the loonies.

Dear us, dear us, this is all so out of our control. Victim, victim.

Of course, the province could do the washing-of-hands routine and let the strike go ahead but, if anything happens, if some poor soul dies and somebody kicks up a stink about the response time of the ambulance or the quality of the crew, the city can say, yes this is beautiful, it's the province's fault because they could have declared an emergency.

And, the logic is so stunning, the city cooks up some phony baloney back-up service, a Plan B the province can't possibly accept.

With a normal level of ambulances on duty and lots of calls and units tied up at overcrowded hospitals there are yellow alerts.

With sub-par service ...

"They will have yellow alerts and red alerts in the first hour," says Bruce Robb, the paramedic union president who has been the definition of mild-mannered throughout this city's version of water torture.

The headline writers would be working overtime.

But, of course, it's not happening. The province won't hitch their wagon to some Band-Aid solution.

Just to make sure the public is completely spun into senselessness and confusion, AFTER the paramedics vote 354-4 for a strike, the city then offers last-minute voluntary arbitration as if to say, gee willakers, we tried our darndest to stop a strike.

Of course, they only offer this ersatz olive branch once the paramedics already decide on their final stand.

So strike notice could be as early as Monday. Sometime in the 72 hours following the notice the province will force the paramedics to stay on the job and both sides will go to binding arbitration.

Bruce and his people know the script as well as anybody.

It is all more than a bit surreal. Gil McGowan of the Alberta Federation of Labour paints the picture in a letter to Iris Evans, the province's minister responsible for labour.

"If the City of Calgary is assured you will instantly step in to prohibit strike action by the paramedics, they have little reason to alter bargaining to a more realistic position since they will not be facing any consequences."

Exactly.

And does the city care if our world-class paramedics are unhappy, a fact sure to be reflected in how many stay on in a boom economy with high inflation? Does the city really wonder why their mouthpieces couldn't bring two sides in a marble game together? No worries. The city can always pass the buck. And do.

At least, the paramedics are allowed to vent in a vote.

"It's important our members get to say how angry they are," says Bruce.

Hopefully, at least the soon-to-be-appointed arbitrator will be listening.

The Calgary Sun, Page 5, Sat July 21 2007
Byline: Rick Bell

The city's paramedics are moving ahead with strike preparations after again rejecting an offer to enter into binding arbitration to settle their contract dispute.

And while they won't be specific about when strike notice will be given, only allowing that it will be sometime next week, an information picket is planned for Monday.

"It's just to shed some light on what our issues are, clear up any misconceptions that might be out there," paramedics spokeswoman Rina Campus said.

Without a contract for more than a year, the paramedics have taken a strike vote and rejected overtures from the city to enter into binding arbitration.

EMS staff this week voted 99 per cent in favour of walking off the job. Unlike police and fire, which are considered essential services, paramedics can go on strike.

However, the province has indicated it will step in and halt any strike action, either by putting in place a disputes inquiry board or an emergency resolution tribunal. It can't act until the union issues the required 72-hour notice.

That won't happen until sometime next week, Campus said, adding the union is still working out some details.

"We're trying to get all our logistics for a strike organized," she said.

The Alberta Federation of Labour has also jumped into the debate, asking the province to leave well enough alone and not interfere with the bargaining process.

President Gil McGowan said in a news release the right to strike is the only way workers can gain a fair contract. If the province does halt strike action, the AFL will scrutinize any deal to make sure it takes into account Calgary's labour market conditions and cost-of-living increases, he said.

Campus said the 440 people employed by EMS "just want a fair contract, whether that's by going out on strike or binding arbitration."

She added that although it seems unlikely they will ever hoist a strike sign, paramedics are willing to take that step.

"Ninety-nine per cent of us are willing to walk out of our jobs and not get paid," she said. "People are willing to do whatever means necessary to get the contract we want."

City spokeswoman Vickie Megrath said they were officially notified Friday that the union won't enter into binding arbitration to settle the lone remaining issue -- money.

"We have to see what the union is going to do next," she said. "We'll continue with our contingency plans and continue to be available to continue discussions."

The city has offered paramedics 12 per cent over three years. The paramedics want 18 per cent, plus a retroactive market adjustment they feel is necessary to bring salaries in line with other city employees.

The union says an EMT makes $21.96 an hour to start, with a top wage of $26.70 an hour. The hourly wages for paramedics range from $23.74 to $30.26, while crew chiefs make $30.26 to $33.54.

Calgary paramedics last went on strike in 1991.

Calgary Herald, Page B2, Sat July 21 2007
Byline: Kim Guttormson

Edmonton Journal, Page B5, Sat July 21 2007
Byline: Kim Guttormson

CALGARY - Calgary's paramedics are moving ahead with what are likely futile strike preparations, after rejecting an offer to enter into binding arbitration with the city.

The union for 440 emergency medical personnel isn't saying when it will give its 72-hour strike notice, only allowing that it will be sometime next week.

"We're trying to get all our logistics for a strike organized," paramedics spokeswoman Rina Campus said Friday after the union rejected overtures from the city to enter into binding arbitration.

However, a strike isn't expected to happen.

The provincial government has indicated it will step in and halt any strike action either by putting in place a disputes inquiry board or an emergency resolution tribunal.

However, the province can't act until the union issues its strike notice.

The paramedics have been without a contract for more than a year. Earlier this week, they voted 99 per cent in favour of walking off the job.

City spokeswoman Vickie Megrath said they were officially notified Friday that the union won't enter into binding arbitration to settle the lone remaining issue -- money.

"We'll continue with our contingency plans and continue to be available to continue discussions," she said.

The Alberta Federation of Labour also jumped into the debate, asking the province not to interfere with the bargaining process.

President Gil McGowan said in a news release the right to strike is the only way workers can gain a fair contract.

The city has offered paramedics 12 per cent over three years. The paramedics want 18 per cent, plus a retroactive market adjustment they feels is necessary to bring salaries in line with other city employees.

The union said an EMT worker makes $21.96 an hour to start, with a top wage of $26.70 an hour.

The hourly wages for paramedics range from $23.74 to $30.26, while crew chiefs make $30.26 to $33.54.

The AFL reacted to the government announcement of a Public Emergency Tribunal in the Edmonton paramedic dispute by denouncing it as an act of a "two bit dictator". The move sweeps away the ambulance workers' rights without respect to process or to the legal right to strike.

"This government is acting like a two-bit dictator," says AFL President Les Steel. "When rights become inconvenient, they act single-handedly to sweep away those rights. This sounds like something a third world dictator would do."

Steel notes that under the Labour Relations Code, paramedics and ambulance workers have the right to strike. By imposing a settlement if one is not found in the next 30 days, the government is overturning this legal right without going through the appropriate legislative process. "It is legislation by decree, which I thought was outlawed in this country."

"Why is the government picking on the workers? Why is it not ordering the City to bargain fairly and find a settlement?" Steel asks.

"There is no public emergency here," Steel added. "This is a transparent excuse to strip away the right to strike from ambulance workers. There is no justification for a Tribunal and forced arbitration." Steel states the government has not adequately proven the existence of an emergency. "The City had contingency plans. Hospitals are still operating at full speed."

"The best way to prevent disruption is to ensure both sides are serious about finding a settlement. Today's action by the Minister makes that less likely, as the City now has no reason to bargain."

"The province has inappropriately taken sides in this dispute. By stripping away the right to strike, it puts the workers into a no-win situation." Steel points out that the City now has nothing forcing it to bargain fairly. If it waits 30 days, the province will come up with a settlement for it.

"If the Minister is capable of sweeping away the right to strike for these workers, who is next? Who is next to arbitrarily lose their rights to this government?" Steel concluded.

For more information call:

Les Steel, President      @     499-4135 (cell) or 483-3021 (wk)