The House of Assembly will sit on Monday for an emergency debate over the strike by rural ambulance workers.
Premier Andrew Furey announced the move in a news release late Saturday afternoon.
“I have taken immediate action in light of the labour dispute between Teamsters Local 855 and the union’s employer, private ambulance operator Fewer’s Ambulance Service Limited, as the recent breakdown of negotiations between the two parties has disrupted services to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians,” Furey stated, adding the “urgent and critical” situation raises serious concerns for the safety and well-being of residents.
The intent of the debate is to enact the Essential Ambulance Services Act, which would make private ambulance services essential.
If passed, the Act will require the union members to return to work until an essential services agreement is established, at which point labour action may resume.
Furey says that’s necessary in order to protect the safety of patients, particularly given the current challenges within the health care system in this province and across Canada.
“We recognize the valuable role private and community ambulance operators and service providers play in the delivery of health care in our province, and it was our hope that the parties could come to an agreement in this labour dispute,” he said.
The provincial government has been providing conciliation services, as outlined in the Labour Relations Act.
But the ambulance staff went on strike and withdrew all services as of noon Friday, alleging unfair actions by the employer.
The Essential Ambulance Services Act would allow the employer and employees to determine the terms of the essential ambulance services agreement, and allow them to engage with the Labour Relations Board when necessary, including authorizing the board to refer a matter to binding arbitration “to protect the employees’ meaningful right to a strike and the employers’ meaningful right to a lockout.”
To date, only ambulance services provided publicly, through the Regional Health Authorities, fall under such legislation. Paramedics employed by private ambulance service operators fall under the Labour Relations Act and have thus far not been deemed essential.
