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Ambulance Paramedics of BC challenge BC Ambulance Service to show them the 5 new positions in Interior and Northern BC Communications Centre it claims have been added since May 2006 – no sign of them so far...

 

KAMLOOPS – The Ambulance Paramedics of British Columbia are challenging the BC Ambulance Service to show them the five new positions it claims have been added to the Interior and Northern BC Communications Centre since May of 2006.

“Five new positions?  We can’t find them anywhere and we’d sure like to, because they are urgently needed,” said John Strohmaier, president of the Ambulance Paramedics, Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 873.

Strohmaier says recent claims in the media by Bob Gallaher, Executive Director for the Interior Region of the BC Ambulance Service, that five positions have been added is news to paramedics and emergency medical dispatchers.  

“There has been no increase in the actual number of physical positions within the centre,” Strohmaier said. “The only increase has been the number of part time dispatchers, who fill in during vacancies due to vacations or illness.”

Gallaher has not responded to the union’s enquiries regarding these alleged increased positions, Strohmaier said.

The union has previously criticized dispatch centres for being understaffed, with dispatchers being forced to endure antiquated equipment, work in less than adequate conditions, not receiving breaks, and poor managerial support.

The recent Kimberley coroners inquest into the deaths of two paramedics at the Sullivan Mine highlighted these issues, and made recommendations, but conditions have not improved, Strohmaier said.

Strohmaier said the Interior and Northern BC Communications Centre has recently suffered a repeat of long standing problems which saw raw sewage flood sections of the centre. The centre has been relocated to a smaller, inadequate area within the current structure located in

Kamloops. Basics such as air conditioning and sound proofing have been constant problems within the temporary centre.

Strohmaier said the union is pushing the BC Ambulance Service to replace the previously condemned building with a new structure to the north of the existing building, along with updated, modern communications equipment and software. A report on options for a new or renovated centre commissioned by the BCAS has not been shared with the union at this point, he said.

For more information contact: John Strohmaier at cell 604-790-0873 or B.J. Chute at cell 604-218-6169 or 604-273-5722 or Bill Tieleman, West Star Communications at 604-844-7827 or cell 778-896-0964.     Website: www.apbc.ca