Province's announcement placing EMS personnel in existing health-care bargaining unit the proper decision, says HSAA President

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

EDMONTON - The Health Sciences Association of Alberta will play a pivotal role in the future of EMS Services in the province, following today's announcement by theAlberta government that maintains the current four health-care bargaining units.

Earlier today, Alberta Employment and Immigration Minister Hector Goudreau announced that a majority of EMS personnel in the province will be moved into one of the existing bargaining units. EMS personnel will be placed in the existing Paramedical Professional and Technical unit, which is currently represented by the Health Sciences Association of Alberta.

"With this decision, a majority of EMS personnel across Alberta will now have a unified voice, both in the field and at the bargaining table," said HSAA President Elisabeth Ballermann.

The overall transition of ground ambulance services is expected to be complete by April 1, 2009, at which time EMS Services will no longer be a municipal responsibility and thus will fall under the jurisdiction of the provincial government.

"We've represented and advocated on behalf of this proud health-care discipline for more than 30 years, a legacy that's not gone unnoticed by the provincial government".

The Alberta Labour Relations Board will administer the process for the transition of roughly 1,000 ambulance employees, which is expected to commence in early April.

"We are going to move expeditiously to ensure this process is undertaken as smoothly as possible for these EMS employees," noted Ballermann.

For more information contact:
Elisabeth Ballermann, President, HSAA - Cell: (780) 991-1274
Scott Pattison, Communications Officer, HSAA - Cell (780) 405-4684