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BC PARAMEDICS NEED YOUR HELP


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I have never understood the logic of any of the public safety wings thinking that everyone who has a siren in their vehicle should be paid the same thing, as they are vastly different jobs with different dangers...

Please elaborate on this. Is there a certain emergency service job that is more dangerous and one that is safer?

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Crotch,

Currently we are making on average $25/hour.

Overtime is theoretically 1.5 but we are factored out of 17% of that so really 1.3 when the smoke clears.

We work a 42 hour week but are paid for 38. Again this is a factoring matter.

Factoring you ask? This was a accounting effort to put all employees on the same earning level. Some work a 4 on 4 off pattern of 12 hour shifts (two days followed by two nights) Others work a 4 day 11 hour pattern of either straight days or two days followed by two afternoon shifts. Then still others work four 10 hour days. Because of the varied hourly patterns and because we are salaried employees they have this mathematical formula that factors those that work the longer shifts to equal out to the shorter shifts so everyone earns the same bi-weekly pay. Very confusing indeed.

Vancouver Fire Department for example just ratified a 5 year contract giving them 17% or so raise. Kicker is that it expires this year. All that raise will retro back 4 years. They begin bargaining the next contract, I believe at the end of '09.

Vancouver Police, who we had parity with back in the 70's and 80's, will be negotiating a new contract for 2010. Currently a 1st class Constable (5year) makes $80k / year. In comparison I have been a paramedic for NINE years and make $56K.

Go to the website I have quoted and see the whole story.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Bump. Our negotiations are still ongoing and it is extremely unlikely we will have a contract prior to the current one expiring. The current situation will probably evolve into the worst contract negotiation since the inception of BC's provincial ambulance service in 1974.

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Beop -- yes, Fire and Police are both more dangerous and have a higher injury rate than EMS, unless you count air ambulance personnel. Currently air ambulance death/injury rates are on track to surpass the most dangerous professions (deep sea fishing and logger).

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Beop -- yes, Fire and Police are both more dangerous and have a higher injury rate than EMS, unless you count air ambulance personnel. Currently air ambulance death/injury rates are on track to surpass the most dangerous professions (deep sea fishing and logger).

You need to look at death and injury rates within the province of BC. In BC paramedics have similair injury rates and a higher death rate. Yes that includes air ambulance, but you have to consider that air-ambulance operations in BC have one of the best safety records in North America. Also remember that any paramedic in BC can end up participating in flight operations should the right set of circumstances arise. It isn't that BC paramedics are taking more foolish actions than paramedics in other parts of Canada. It's the fact that Police and Fire in BC have a stellar safety record compared to many other places. Kudos to them.

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UPDATE

BC Ambulance Paramedics have voted 96% in favor of strike action. In a vote of extremely high turnout Paramedics in BC have told the employer that they are willing to engage in job action if a new contract is not achieved before the expiry of the curren collective agreement on March 31/09

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