Comments on: BC Paramedics: “Essential Service” Victims http://harveyoberfeld.ca/blog/bc-paramedics-essential-service-victims/ Fri, 18 May 2012 00:51:01 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: Alex http://harveyoberfeld.ca/blog/bc-paramedics-essential-service-victims/comment-page-1/#comment-54373 Alex Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:22:34 +0000 http://harveyoberfeld.ca/blog/?p=734#comment-54373 I work as a Paramedic in Vancouver. Last year, I worked in excess of 70 overtime shifts and could have worked more if I wanted to. I did so to pay for an Advanced Life Support course that I plan to take in the future. In March of this year, the admission requirements changed for the course and I now have to complete 1 year of university prior to enrolling. I am presently in contempt of the Supreme Court order because I refuse to work or submit overtime availability as I have done “historically” in the past. I do, and always have worked my regularly scheduled shifts. But now I am expected to work 2 overtime shifts, study, and try to fit in some time for myself and my family before starting the cycle all over again. Many of my colleges are in similar circumstances for different reasons. It is not our fault that we are short paramedics on the street. We have been short “historically” for years. Paramedics work for the most part 12 hour shifts (2 day shifts followed by 2 night shifts with 4 days off). The overtime we are being asked to do isn’t an hour or so. It is a full shift. My overtime rate is 1&1/2 my base rate ($30.01). If my regular shift runs into overtime because of a late call, I receive $45.02 per hour. If I work an overtime shift on my days off, I receive only $37.51 per hour instead of my overtime rate of $45.02. A difference $7.50 per hour. The BC government realized a long time ago that it is cheaper to have Paramedics work overtime than hire more fulltime staff. On average, 15 ambulances are staffed with Paramedics on overtime costing the taxpayer approximately 15 million a year. This doesn’t include sickness or injury incurred while working these extra hours. To staff these ambulances normally, would cost approximately 9 million. Paramedics are for the most part, are very busy. I seldom see my station during my shift, and usually go from call to call without seeing my station, and if I do, it is to restock, organize stock, clean my station, clean my ambulance and try to find time to take care of the necessities of life (eating, washroom, etc.). There are only 3,471 Paramedics in the province working out of 470 ambulances (including spare vehicles). We did 534,688 calls in 2007/2008 (excluding hospital waits and area stand-bys). If you take these numbers in perspective, Paramedics had contact with 1 in 8 people living in the province BC. If you are to compare the BC Ambulance Service with any other ambulance service. You will see very quickly that we are, by far, the busiest. I work as a Paramedic in Vancouver. Last year, I worked in excess of 70 overtime shifts and could have worked more if I wanted to. I did so to pay for an Advanced Life Support course that I plan to take in the future. In March of this year, the admission requirements changed for the course and I now have to complete 1 year of university prior to enrolling. I am presently in contempt of the Supreme Court order because I refuse to work or submit overtime availability as I have done “historically” in the past. I do, and always have worked my regularly scheduled shifts. But now I am expected to work 2 overtime shifts, study, and try to fit in some time for myself and my family before starting the cycle all over again. Many of my colleges are in similar circumstances for different reasons. It is not our fault that we are short paramedics on the street. We have been short “historically” for years.
Paramedics work for the most part 12 hour shifts (2 day shifts followed by 2 night shifts with 4 days off). The overtime we are being asked to do isn’t an hour or so. It is a full shift. My overtime rate is 1&1/2 my base rate ($30.01). If my regular shift runs into overtime because of a late call, I receive $45.02 per hour. If I work an overtime shift on my days off, I receive only $37.51 per hour instead of my overtime rate of $45.02. A difference $7.50 per hour. The BC government realized a long time ago that it is cheaper to have Paramedics work overtime than hire more fulltime staff.
On average, 15 ambulances are staffed with Paramedics on overtime costing the taxpayer approximately 15 million a year. This doesn’t include sickness or injury incurred while working these extra hours. To staff these ambulances normally, would cost approximately 9 million.
Paramedics are for the most part, are very busy. I seldom see my station during my shift, and usually go from call to call without seeing my station, and if I do, it is to restock, organize stock, clean my station, clean my ambulance and try to find time to take care of the necessities of life (eating, washroom, etc.).
There are only 3,471 Paramedics in the province working out of 470 ambulances (including spare vehicles). We did 534,688 calls in 2007/2008 (excluding hospital waits and area stand-bys). If you take these numbers in perspective, Paramedics had contact with 1 in 8 people living in the province BC. If you are to compare the BC Ambulance Service with any other ambulance service. You will see very quickly that we are, by far, the busiest.

]]> By: Alex http://harveyoberfeld.ca/blog/bc-paramedics-essential-service-victims/comment-page-1/#comment-54035 Alex Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:09:19 +0000 http://harveyoberfeld.ca/blog/?p=734#comment-54035   I’m a Paramedic in Vancouver. Last year, I worked in excess of 70 overtime shifts and could have worked more if I wanted to.  I did so to pay for an Advance Life Support course in the future.  In March of this year, the admission requirements changed for the course and now I have to complete 1 year of university prior to enrolling.  I am presently in contempt of the Supreme Court order because I refuse to work or submit overtime availability.  I work my regularly scheduled shifts, study and try to fit in some time for myself and my family before starting the cycle all over again.  Many of my colleges are in similar circumstances.   It’s not our fault that we are short paramedics on the street.  We have been short “historically” for years. Paramedics work for the most part 12 hour shifts (2 day shifts followed by 2 night shifts with 4 days off). The overtime we are being asked to do isn’t an hour or so, it’s a full shift.   My overtime rate is 1&1/2 my base rate ($30.01). If my regular shift runs into overtime because of a late call, I receive $45.02 per hour.  If I work an overtime shift on my regular days of I receive only $37.51 per hour instead of my overtime rate of $45.02. (a difference of$7.50 per hour).   The government realized a long time ago that it is cheaper to have Paramedics work overtime than hire more fulltime staff. On average, 15 ambulances are staffed with Paramedics on overtime costing the taxpayer approximately 15 million a year.  This doesn’t include sickness or injury incurred while working extra hours.   To staff these ambulances normally, would cost approximately 9 million.   Paramedics are for the most part, are very busy.   I seldom see my station during my shift and if I do it’s to restock.  There are only 3.471 of us in the province working out of 470 ambulances (including spare vehicles).  We did 534.688 calls in 2007/2008 (excluding hospital waits and area stand-bys).   To look at it in perspective, we had contact with 1 in 8 people living in BC.  If you are to compare any other service to ours... we are by far, the busiest. (Response: Thanks. Info like you have provided makes it really easier to understand the dispute issues. h.o.)      
I’m a Paramedic in Vancouver. Last year, I worked in excess of 70 overtime shifts and could have worked more if I wanted to.  I did so to pay for an Advance Life Support course in the future.  In March of this year, the admission requirements changed for the course and now I have to complete 1 year of university prior to enrolling.  I am presently in contempt of the Supreme Court order because I refuse to work or submit overtime availability.  I work my regularly scheduled shifts, study and try to fit in some time for myself and my family before starting the cycle all over again.  Many of my colleges are in similar circumstances.   It’s not our fault that we are short paramedics on the street.  We have been short “historically” for years.

Paramedics work for the most part 12 hour shifts (2 day shifts followed by 2 night shifts with 4 days off). The overtime we are being asked to do isn’t an hour or so, it’s a full shift.   My overtime rate is 1&1/2 my base rate ($30.01). If my regular shift runs into overtime because of a late call, I receive $45.02 per hour.  If I work an overtime shift on my regular days of I receive only $37.51 per hour instead of my overtime rate of $45.02. (a difference of$7.50 per hour).   The government realized a long time ago that it is cheaper to have Paramedics work overtime than hire more fulltime staff.

On average, 15 ambulances are staffed with Paramedics on overtime costing the taxpayer approximately 15 million a year.  This doesn’t include sickness or injury incurred while working extra hours.   To staff these ambulances normally, would cost approximately 9 million.  

Paramedics are for the most part, are very busy.   I seldom see my station during my shift and if I do it’s to restock.  There are only 3.471 of us in the province working out of 470 ambulances (including spare vehicles).  We did 534.688 calls in 2007/2008 (excluding hospital waits and area stand-bys).   To look at it in perspective, we had contact with 1 in 8 people living in BC.  If you are to compare any other service to ours… we are by far, the busiest.

(Response: Thanks. Info like you have provided makes it really easier to understand the dispute issues. h.o.)
   

]]> By: Withheld http://harveyoberfeld.ca/blog/bc-paramedics-essential-service-victims/comment-page-1/#comment-50084 Withheld Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:49:04 +0000 http://harveyoberfeld.ca/blog/?p=734#comment-50084 Harvey, I would have thought with your extensive background you might have done a more thorough job of reporting the facts of this issue. Did you check out the Vancouver Sun (your former employer) Public Sector Salaries List, which provides the incomes for the 30,000 highest paid civil servants in BC? Did you compare the names on that list with, say, the names of the paramedics in the video on the 'Save our Paramedics' site? It's interesting that the list doesn't show the Job Title of many...many who are paramedics, and most of whom make $75,000+ per year! How do they make so much money? Overtime. On the Ambulance Paramedics of BC website, there is an ad which says "Sooner or later someone is going to die needlessly". Harvey, it already happens more often than the ambulance paramedics want you to know - because some of them refuse to do the job as the employer requires using internationally recognized protocols and treatments (instead of "winging it") because the paramedics think they know better; because some of them should not be paramedics but get pushed through the system, taking (paid by the employer) training up to four times in order to be licensed; the union actually defends the right and jobs of many of these "paramedics" even though there is ample evidence they should not be working; the gov't spends millions of dollars in out of court settlements to avoid public knowledge of the "mistakes" these paramedics make. To be hired, one only needs a grade 12 education, a class 4 driver's licence, and a first aid ticket. There is no longer a fitness requirement (it was discontinued - and supported by the union - after employees "hurt" themselves trying to lift weight up stairs - a common job requirement) and quite frankly there should be - some paramedics cannot possibly do their job properly with those bellies in their way!! The public needs to know that the paramedics are not telling the whole truth about the situation. Paramedics do not "work" for $2 an hour - they are being paid to wait at their station for calls, because some live too far away (or take too long getting there) to provide an "appropriate response time". And Harvey - the union fought for that benefit for their part-time members - the same employees who are not making themselves available for work now, so ambulances are not staffed, communities have no ambulance coverage...while the full-time employees work their two days/two nights, then have four or six days off, or work "forced" overtime, or attend union demonstrations. Boo Hoo! Who's really paying the price for this?!? The last contract the APBC had was accepted by the union and membership - so what are they whining about? Sure the ambulance service could be better run - if the paramedics want wage parity with other services, why not amalgamate them with the fire service? Because the APBC don't want that. So what do they want, for the taxpayers of this province? I'm not saying the service is perfect, but the paramedics are not helping themselves or the public. There are other, simpler, non-strike action ways to make it clearer to the employer what needs to be done. But that would involve giving up their precious overtime bucks, which their lifestyles can't afford. Whose lives are they on strike to save...? Get back to work, all of you! Be grateful you still have jobs. (Response: If you've read my blog or listened to me on CFUN on this topic, you know I have repeatedly indicated I am not taking sides on how much the paramedics should be paid. My gripe is with the process: government should not be allowed to take away a group's right to strike without attaching a firm mechanism for settling disputes, like a timetable for negotiations, then mediation and finally binding arbitratiion. But to take away a memocratic right and then FORCE them to just keep working ... not the Canadian way ..or at least should not be. h.o) Harvey,
I would have thought with your extensive background you might have done a more thorough job of reporting the facts of this issue.
Did you check out the Vancouver Sun (your former employer) Public Sector Salaries List, which provides the incomes for the 30,000 highest paid civil servants in BC? Did you compare the names on that list with, say, the names of the paramedics in the video on the ‘Save our Paramedics’ site? It’s interesting that the list doesn’t show the Job Title of many…many who are paramedics, and most of whom make $75,000+ per year!
How do they make so much money? Overtime.
On the Ambulance Paramedics of BC website, there is an ad which says “Sooner or later someone is going to die needlessly”. Harvey, it already happens more often than the ambulance paramedics want you to know – because some of them refuse to do the job as the employer requires using internationally recognized protocols and treatments (instead of “winging it”) because the paramedics think they know better; because some of them should not be paramedics but get pushed through the system, taking (paid by the employer) training up to four times in order to be licensed; the union actually defends the right and jobs of many of these “paramedics” even though there is ample evidence they should not be working; the gov’t spends millions of dollars in out of court settlements to avoid public knowledge of the “mistakes” these paramedics make. To be hired, one only needs a grade 12 education, a class 4 driver’s licence, and a first aid ticket. There is no longer a fitness requirement (it was discontinued – and supported by the union – after employees “hurt” themselves trying to lift weight up stairs – a common job requirement) and quite frankly there should be – some paramedics cannot possibly do their job properly with those bellies in their way!!
The public needs to know that the paramedics are not telling the whole truth about the situation.
Paramedics do not “work” for $2 an hour – they are being paid to wait at their station for calls, because some live too far away (or take too long getting there) to provide an “appropriate response time”. And Harvey – the union fought for that benefit for their part-time members – the same employees who are not making themselves available for work now, so ambulances are not staffed, communities have no ambulance coverage…while the full-time employees work their two days/two nights, then have four or six days off, or work “forced” overtime, or attend union demonstrations. Boo Hoo! Who’s really paying the price for this?!?
The last contract the APBC had was accepted by the union and membership – so what are they whining about?
Sure the ambulance service could be better run – if the paramedics want wage parity with other services, why not amalgamate them with the fire service? Because the APBC don’t want that.
So what do they want, for the taxpayers of this province?
I’m not saying the service is perfect, but the paramedics are not helping themselves or the public. There are other, simpler, non-strike action ways to make it clearer to the employer what needs to be done. But that would involve giving up their precious overtime bucks, which their lifestyles can’t afford. Whose lives are they on strike to save…?
Get back to work, all of you! Be grateful you still have jobs.

(Response: If you’ve read my blog or listened to me on CFUN on this topic, you know I have repeatedly indicated I am not taking sides on how much the paramedics should be paid. My gripe is with the process: government should not be allowed to take away a group’s right to strike without attaching a firm mechanism for settling disputes, like a timetable for negotiations, then mediation and finally binding arbitratiion. But to take away a memocratic right and then FORCE them to just keep working … not the Canadian way ..or at least should not be. h.o)

]]> By: genuine http://harveyoberfeld.ca/blog/bc-paramedics-essential-service-victims/comment-page-1/#comment-49800 genuine Tue, 28 Jul 2009 01:16:09 +0000 http://harveyoberfeld.ca/blog/?p=734#comment-49800 BOY this sounds like trans link,and the drivers those poor drivers do all the work and get beat up on the job and those freakin ass holes, (managers)sit in their offices many of them,expecting to get their asses kissed for doing sweet f all! Sorry for the language,but every institution is run this way! over managed and under staffed!Get rid of the managers that aren't needed start cutting there, but no these guys are the spies for the managers that manage them and so on and so on.......if those funds were put for what they were truly meant for SERVICES!!!!!!!!NOT MANAGEMENT LARGESS!!!!!!!!!PRICKS THE LOT OF THEM!!!!!to the paramedics chin up boy's and girls something will come of this it's time to march on that conniving pricks office!!!everyone I talk to on the street is up for it all we need is Barret and Vanderzalm (Ive forgiven him)and Rafe Mair to organize it friendly old faces from an era of true prosperity and when men were men and women were women and not deceiver's . BOY this sounds like trans link,and the drivers those poor drivers do all the work and get beat up on the job and those freakin ass holes, (managers)sit in their offices many of them,expecting to get their asses kissed for doing sweet f all! Sorry for the language,but every institution is run this way! over managed and under staffed!Get rid of the managers that aren’t needed start cutting there, but no these guys are the spies for the managers that manage them and so on and so on…….if those funds were put for what they were truly meant for SERVICES!!!!!!!!NOT MANAGEMENT LARGESS!!!!!!!!!PRICKS THE LOT OF THEM!!!!!to the paramedics chin up boy’s and girls something will come of this it’s time to march on that conniving pricks office!!!everyone I talk to on the street is up for it all we need is Barret and Vanderzalm (Ive forgiven him)and Rafe Mair to organize it friendly old faces from an era of true prosperity and when men were men and women were women and not deceiver’s .

]]> By: Mr. Knowing http://harveyoberfeld.ca/blog/bc-paramedics-essential-service-victims/comment-page-1/#comment-49795 Mr. Knowing Tue, 28 Jul 2009 00:37:01 +0000 http://harveyoberfeld.ca/blog/?p=734#comment-49795 The olympics are NOT leverage - the government recently passed a bill that allows them to issue paramedic licenses to anyone they want - that includes people from outside the province, taxi drivers (they could drive the ambulance) etc., etc. - anyone they want. Also the government is planning on using our military paramedics for the olympics anyways - our strike doesn't affect that at all. I am bound by law to work on my days off - it doesn't matter how bad things were at work, or if it is my child's birthday, or I want to visit with a friend from out of town - the government can phone and tell me I am working tomorrow! How would you like to work your full time job and then be on call 24/7? Going biking in whistler for the weekend? The government can phone me at 10 in the morning and tell me to leave the mountain and report to work (on my days of) (Response: Interesting .. BUT job action or protests OR PICKETS by ambulance drivers during the games could garner very unpleasant international attention. And MANY union workers will not cross the lines. It WILL be settled before then. h.o.) The olympics are NOT leverage – the government recently passed a bill that allows them to issue paramedic licenses to anyone they want – that includes people from outside the province, taxi drivers (they could drive the ambulance) etc., etc. – anyone they want.

Also the government is planning on using our military paramedics for the olympics anyways – our strike doesn’t affect that at all.

I am bound by law to work on my days off – it doesn’t matter how bad things were at work, or if it is my child’s birthday, or I want to visit with a friend from out of town – the government can phone and tell me I am working tomorrow!

How would you like to work your full time job and then be on call 24/7? Going biking in whistler for the weekend? The government can phone me at 10 in the morning and tell me to leave the mountain and report to work (on my days of)

(Response: Interesting .. BUT job action or protests OR PICKETS by ambulance drivers during the games could garner very unpleasant international attention. And MANY union workers will not cross the lines. It WILL be settled before then. h.o.)

]]> By: Henri P http://harveyoberfeld.ca/blog/bc-paramedics-essential-service-victims/comment-page-1/#comment-49708 Henri P Sun, 26 Jul 2009 19:55:26 +0000 http://harveyoberfeld.ca/blog/?p=734#comment-49708 Harv said, (But I’ll bet the government won’t continue to ignore it as the Olympics draw near!) --------------------------------- There's your answer,That's one of the ways for the paramedics to handle this dispute. Forgo your actions for now, say no more ,except amongst yourselves, draw up a new strategy ,bring it into play Jan 1/10 , hit the hot spots ,you know where there going to be,then, go for 25% more of everything your asking for now, the government will relent,guaranteed. If you have to be militant do it, that's the only language that worked in the past, the new passive chicken sh!t union leaders have no gonads , keep a close watch on the union exec ,most are in office for the status and money, and don't be scared to tell them to pound sand, they are ,after all "working for you", not the other way around ,as they so like to portray. Been there ,done that. Harv said, (But I’ll bet the government won’t continue to ignore it as the Olympics draw near!)
———————————
There’s your answer,That’s one of the ways for the paramedics to handle this dispute.
Forgo your actions for now, say no more ,except amongst yourselves, draw up a new strategy ,bring it into play Jan 1/10 , hit the hot spots ,you know where there going to be,then, go for 25% more of everything your asking for now, the government will relent,guaranteed. If you have to be militant do it, that’s the only language that worked in the past, the new passive chicken sh!t union leaders have no gonads , keep a close watch on the union exec ,most are in office for the status and money, and don’t be scared to tell them to pound sand, they are ,after all “working for you”, not the other way around ,as they so like to portray. Been there ,done that.

]]> By: Casey http://harveyoberfeld.ca/blog/bc-paramedics-essential-service-victims/comment-page-1/#comment-49663 Casey Sun, 26 Jul 2009 03:08:20 +0000 http://harveyoberfeld.ca/blog/?p=734#comment-49663 Harvey - You absolutely N-A-I-L-E-D this issue to the wall. I couldn't have put it better. If the public only understood the level of unfairness that is at play here, we'd be laughing. How are the Liberals getting away with this? As I was reading your article, I had one of those rare moments where you feel the writer was reading your mind! Thanks for calling it like it is. Hopefully the public will eventually understand the ridiculous nature of the ESL and how it creates a terribly unequal playing field - in gross favor of the government. Harvey – You absolutely N-A-I-L-E-D this issue to the wall. I couldn’t have put it better. If the public only understood the level of unfairness that is at play here, we’d be laughing. How are the Liberals getting away with this? As I was reading your article, I had one of those rare moments where you feel the writer was reading your mind! Thanks for calling it like it is. Hopefully the public will eventually understand the ridiculous nature of the ESL and how it creates a terribly unequal playing field – in gross favor of the government.

]]> By: Wife of a paramedic http://harveyoberfeld.ca/blog/bc-paramedics-essential-service-victims/comment-page-1/#comment-49661 Wife of a paramedic Sun, 26 Jul 2009 02:54:52 +0000 http://harveyoberfeld.ca/blog/?p=734#comment-49661 Thanks Harv, Finally someone who understands what paramedics are going through. The lastest tactic by the BC Liberals is a complaint with the Labour Relations Board - It is now a violation of the essential services order and the government is threatening paramedics of contempt of court if they do not work overtime. Can you believe this? What would you do if your employer told you - You had to answer the phone if they called on your DAY OFF and if requested - you had to come into work - not because of a major disaster but because BC Ambulance fails to have adequate staff to staff the ambulances. I don't call this work, I call this slavery!!!!! The paramedics need time off ... they need downtime ... take it from a paramedics wife - they come home exhausted, physically & mentally and then be told they have to work more is just plain cruel. It is only a matter of time, when these individuals make a mistake and someone dies unnecessarily. Who will then take the blame - the paramedic or the government? Thanks Harv, Finally someone who understands what paramedics are going through. The lastest tactic by the BC Liberals is a complaint with the Labour Relations Board – It is now a violation of the essential services order and the government is threatening paramedics of contempt of court if they do not work overtime.

Can you believe this? What would you do if your employer told you – You had to answer the phone if they called on your DAY OFF and if requested – you had to come into work – not because of a major disaster but because BC Ambulance fails to have adequate staff to staff the ambulances.

I don’t call this work, I call this slavery!!!!!
The paramedics need time off … they need downtime … take it from a paramedics wife – they come home exhausted, physically & mentally and then be told they have to work more is just plain cruel. It is only a matter of time, when these individuals make a mistake and someone dies unnecessarily. Who will then take the blame – the paramedic or the government?

]]> By: Robert http://harveyoberfeld.ca/blog/bc-paramedics-essential-service-victims/comment-page-1/#comment-49658 Robert Sun, 26 Jul 2009 02:25:23 +0000 http://harveyoberfeld.ca/blog/?p=734#comment-49658 I have been a Paramedic with BC Ambulance for 4 years now. I was very proud to be a member of BC Ambualnce when I first stared. But I soon realized what it was all about! The government is stating that the average wage for a Paramedic is $60,000 per year. In a good station, yes you can make that much.. BUT!!! They are forgetting to tell you that to make that you are having to work 40, 50 or even 60 shifts !!! Someone ar Tim Horton's can make more than that work 24-7!.. thay can.. I bet that they would make over $100,000 because they would be paid OVERTIME after working 8 hours!... The Health Authority has brought out a medi van service, doing transfers that Paramedics once did. So when we did get call outs to do transfers while on a Kilo shift ( the famous $2.00 per hr ) we just plan and simple are getting them... I want everyone to look into there own income.. Look at what you are paid per hr and compair that to $2.00.. Would you be able to raise a family, or pay for your house on $2.00 per hr?.... And just food for thought!.. When you are having the worst day in your life, if you are at a hospital and need to be transfered to a different for special treatment or just to have a bed to sleep in. Would you want a trained Paramedic to help you.. or a person in the medi van service with NO MEDICAL TRAINING!!! YEs that is right!! Do you know that they do not even sit in the back of the vehicle with you.. What if along the trip something gets worse for you? What is you need something?.. or even just someone to talk to... Medi van service is GOING TO KILL SOMEONE!!!! just give it time!.. I know that it wrong to say.. just knowing what I know.. it is going to happen! and maybe it was already.. who knows.... but just mark my words.. watch the news and when the head line comes across that someone died that did not have to.. Youe will then see that I am right! And as for Gorndon Campbell .. Well he is an ASSHOLE!!! plain and simple.. I would love to see his face if anything ever happens to him and he needs a ambulance... :D:D... Why did I spend over $20,000 in training to do what I do.. Because I was proud to do the job.. I still am.. but vomit just a little bit every time that I have to put on the uniform with BC Ambulance on it... They don't care about us!!! The managers just care about there 6 figure wages.. and as long as we don't rock the boat... we are welcome to sit behind them and kiss there ass.. BUT NO MORE!!!!!!! and more thing.. do U know that in Vancouver... One manager from the health authority makes over $400,000 per year?!?!?!!? and he is not even the top manager.. I have been a Paramedic with BC Ambulance for 4 years now. I was very proud to be a member of BC Ambualnce when I first stared. But I soon realized what it was all about!

The government is stating that the average wage for a Paramedic is $60,000 per year. In a good station, yes you can make that much.. BUT!!! They are forgetting to tell you that to make that you are having to work 40, 50 or even 60 shifts !!! Someone ar Tim Horton’s can make more than that work 24-7!.. thay can.. I bet that they would make over $100,000 because they would be paid OVERTIME after working 8 hours!… The Health Authority has brought out a medi van service, doing transfers that Paramedics once did. So when we did get call outs to do transfers while on a Kilo shift ( the famous $2.00 per hr ) we just plan and simple are getting them… I want everyone to look into there own income.. Look at what you are paid per hr and compair that to $2.00.. Would you be able to raise a family, or pay for your house on $2.00 per hr?….

And just food for thought!.. When you are having the worst day in your life, if you are at a hospital and need to be transfered to a different for special treatment or just to have a bed to sleep in. Would you want a trained Paramedic to help you.. or a person in the medi van service with NO MEDICAL TRAINING!!! YEs that is right!! Do you know that they do not even sit in the back of the vehicle with you.. What if along the trip something gets worse for you? What is you need something?.. or even just someone to talk to… Medi van service is GOING TO KILL SOMEONE!!!! just give it time!.. I know that it wrong to say.. just knowing what I know.. it is going to happen! and maybe it was already.. who knows…. but just mark my words.. watch the news and when the head line comes across that someone died that did not have to.. Youe will then see that I am right!

And as for Gorndon Campbell .. Well he is an ASSHOLE!!! plain and simple.. I would love to see his face if anything ever happens to him and he needs a ambulance… :D :D…

Why did I spend over $20,000 in training to do what I do.. Because I was proud to do the job.. I still am.. but vomit just a little bit every time that I have to put on the uniform with BC Ambulance on it… They don’t care about us!!! The managers just care about there 6 figure wages.. and as long as we don’t rock the boat… we are welcome to sit behind them and kiss there ass.. BUT NO MORE!!!!!!!

and more thing.. do U know that in Vancouver… One manager from the health authority makes over $400,000 per year?!?!?!!? and he is not even the top manager..

]]> By: Wayne http://harveyoberfeld.ca/blog/bc-paramedics-essential-service-victims/comment-page-1/#comment-49564 Wayne Sat, 25 Jul 2009 05:30:59 +0000 http://harveyoberfeld.ca/blog/?p=734#comment-49564 The pot has been boiling for a long time.....it's so screwed that where do you start too fix it! The liberals aren't interested in trying as it's based on a part-time system that was based on compensating volunteers.....it's so far over-stretched to continue with this mentallity. Paramedics are looking at other careers and early retirement to get away, and if this whole mess continues, getting too the hospital could be a challenge. I guess you get what you vote for! The pot has been boiling for a long time…..it’s so screwed that where do you start too fix it! The liberals aren’t interested in trying as it’s based on a part-time system that was based on compensating volunteers…..it’s so far over-stretched to continue with this mentallity. Paramedics are looking at other careers and early retirement to get away, and if this whole mess continues, getting too the hospital could be a challenge. I guess you get what you vote for!

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