The House of Assembly is reopening this morning for an emergency debate to enact new legislation to have private ambulance services declared essential.
Premier Andrew Furey says the Essential Ambulance Services Act is in response to the strike by Teamsters Union Local 855 which represents some 100 workers employed by Fewer’s Ambulance Service at seven locations in the province.
Furey has directed the Government House Leader to ask the Speaker to convene members of the House of Assembly due to the “urgent and critical nature of the situation” created by the strike action.
On Friday, Teamsters Union business manager Hubert Dawe announced that they were withdrawing all services due to actions taken by the employer.
The Act will make private ambulance services essential—something government argues is necessary in order to protect the safety of patients. The House will reconvene this morning at 10:00. Premier Andrew Furey and Labour Minister Bernard Davis will discuss the Act with media just before the House reconvenes.
(Eastern Health Ambulance)
The union that represents the workers says it is pleased to see the matter go to the House of Assembly.
Members of Teamsters Union Local 855 began picketing on the weekend, with over 100 workers and supports gathering in CBS yesterday. They’re expected to move the picket line to Confederation Hill at 9:00 this morning.
Business manager for the union, Hubert Dawe, says the union has been advocating to be designated as an essential service for some time, and while they are waiting to hear the official language, they support the Act if it is true essential-service legislation.
He says the legislation would have terms that would force both sides into binding arbitration where each would present their case in advance of a ruling. He says that would solve the current dispute.
Services affected are the ones based in Stephenville, Holyrood, Conception Bay South, Arnold’s Cove, Clarenville, Lethbridge, Bonavista, the northern part of the Burin Peninsula, Gambo, Carmanville, Fogo Island and Trepassey.
Meanwhile, Tory Leader David Brazil says it should never have come to this. He says it’s only become an emergency because of government’s failure to act sooner.
Brazil was asked Friday whether ambulance workers should be legislated back to work.
He notes government is responsible for health care in the province, and should’ve been more proactive to prevent the collapse of talks and the strike which has lead to the need for an emergency debate.
