July 8, 1998
PARAMEDICS ISSUE RED ALERT
The Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 3197, plans to ask the province to conduct a strike vote, officials said yesterday. The union is accusing the city of waffling on critical issues. But Mayor Bill Smith said mediation talks will continue later this month and a strike vote wouldn't be allowed for another two weeks after that. "They're in negotiations and I think they'll work things out," said Smith. Coun. Brian Mason criticized the union statements as public posturing in the lead-up to the fall civic election. According to the union, the major sticking point preventing a deal between the two sides involves the issue of whether paramedics are on every ambulance. Some ambulances are currently run by emergency medical technicians - staffers with lower qualifications than paramedics. In a press release, the union argues that the city could cut down on the number of ambulances it needs by making every vehicle a so-called advanced life-support system (ALS) with a paramedic on board. In the statement, union local president Mike Foster says the 132% rise in red alerts in the past two years means the paramedic ranks need to be beefed up. Next Story: ROAD PLAN HEADED FOR BALLOT? Previous Story: COPS SEEK WITNESSES TO CANADA DAY TRAGEDY
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