Agreement Reached on Paramedics

The bill sending the dispute between the province's paramedics and their employer, Emergency Medical Care Inc. (EMC), to binding arbitration passed the legislature today after the paramedics' union and EMC reached agreement on the contentious issue of retroactive pay.

Premier John Hamm expressed the government's approval for the deal, and his personal relief that a strike by the province's paramedics lasted less than a day. Public safety was always the government's concern, said the premier, and that worry has lifted.

"This agreement reflects the fundamental principle of our bill -- it allows for binding arbitration that will ensure a fair deal for the paramedics, while assuring Nova Scotians of continued, high-quality emergency medical care," the premier said.

The premier noted the legislation reflects the agreement reached at the bargaining table by paramedics and their employer.

"This government respects agreements reached at the negotiating table," said the premier.

Health Minister Jamie Muir, who encouraged both union and management to get back together today, said the government wanted a settlement that was negotiated or arbitrated.

"Negotiations on their first contract were allowed to drag on for 15 months. This agreement, and the legislation that passed today to allow binding arbitration, will bring this matter to a successful conclusion," he said.

The agreement between EMC, contracted by the province to provide emergency services, and the Nova Scotia Government Employees Union, representing the province's 650 paramedics, broke the log-jam that had delayed passage of the government's binding arbitration bill.

The union-management agreement allows the parties to submit the issue of retroactive pay to the independent arbitration process established by the legislation.

Mr. Muir said that compromise is fair to both the paramedics and the taxpayers of Nova Scotia.

Contact:David Harrigan
Department of Health
902-424-7942
E-mail: [email protected]

Rob Batherson
Premier's Office
902-424-6601
E-mail: [email protected]