Printer-friendly version

Deputy labour minister to look into B.C. paramedics contract dispute

VICTORIA, B.C. — B.C.'s deputy labour minister has been called to assess a contract dispute involving ambulance paramedics that's threatening to erupt into a strike next week.

The paramedics are threatening to walk off the job April 1, saying an offer of a three per cent wage increase in a one-year contract is not good enough.

Labour Minister Iain Black has asked his deputy, Paul Straszak, to find out if there's any possibility of a negotiated deal before the May 12 election campaign begins.

Black says the government's options in dealing with such a labour dispute are more limited during a campaign, and he wants an assessment of the situation before the election writ is dropped on April 14.

Meanwhile, Health Minister George Abbott says the current offer before the paramedics is fair, but CUPE local 873 president John Strohmaier says it would leave paramedics the lowest-paid emergency service workers in B.C.

If a strike does go ahead, the law requires a minimum level of ambulance service to be maintained.

Copyright © 2009 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.