One Canadian government is attempting to analyze all the aspects of local EMS jobs.
An industrial inquiry commission working under the Province of British Columbia recently submitted a report to CUPE Local 873, the union representing the Emergency and Health Services Commission, as well as its paramedics and dispatchers.
Commissioner Chris Trumpy, acting as a one-person commission under the B.C. Labour Relations Code, completed the report, which is non-binding and only meant to provide options for further consideration by government to help improve service delivery and the structure of collective bargaining.
“Mr. Trumpy has submitted a thoughtful and comprehensive report that will help inform the broader discussion about redesigning the B.C. Ambulance Service and the bargaining relationship between paramedics and their employer,” Murray Coell, minister of labour, said. “I have forwarded the report to my colleague, Minister of Health Services Kevin Falcon, who will be reviewing it.”
The report found the British Columbia Ambulance Service currently employs 1,485 full-time staff members, with a median age of 46, and 2,129 part-time staff members, with a median age of 39. Overall attrition remains relatively low, while staffing rural and remote stations remains a growing challenge.
Other highlights of the report include:
- An examination of the collective bargaining structure in the ambulance service, including: the delivery of ambulance services by way of an independent commission under the Emergency and Health Services Act; the transfer of ambulance services to the health sector as either an independent commission or integrated into an existing service delivery structure in accordance with the Health Authorities Act; and service redesign to facilitate greater alignment with municipal fire services.
- Examination of a number of items specifically requested by CUPE Local 873, including: staff recruitment; training and retention; staff workload and occupational health and safety issues; and deployment strategies in comparison with other Canadian ambulance service delivery models.
- A comparison of paramedic and dispatcher compensation across Canadian jurisdictions based on: wages; premiums for hours worked and hours on-call in rural and remote areas; and benefits, including health benefits, welfare benefits and pension plan.
Check out this recruiting video from CUPE: