B.C. reaches temporary deal with paramedics aimed at boosting rural staffing

The B.C. government and the union representing paramedics have come to a “temporary” deal meant to boost ambulance staffing in rural and remote communities.

The agreement between BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) and the Ambulance Paramedics of B.C., laid out in a letter to members, boosts “pager pay” paramedics receive while on call but not responding to an emergency from $2 per hour to $12 per hour.

It will also temporarily make overtime/recall shifts on evenings and weekends paid at a double overtime rate.

The agreement took effect on Saturday, and is scheduled to remain in place until Dec. 31, or when the province and union reach a deal in their contract negotiations — whichever comes first.

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The agreement replaces a pair of other incentives BCEHS implemented in June, which offered paramedics $100 per shift for agreeing to regular on-call shifts and to paramedics willing to take two to four week-long placements in remote communities.

“Our hope is with these initiatives that are being put in place temporarily, that we’ll be able to bolster some our, particularly in rural and remote B.C., where we’re seeing an inability to recruit and staff ambulances because of that low and precarious model of on-call pay of two dollars an hour,” Troy Clifford, president of the paramedics’ union, said.

“So this will give an influx of additional funds for those members working and willing to fill in for some of those communities rural and remote.”

Global News is seeking comment from Health Minister Adrian Dix on the agreement.

Paramedics and their employer began bargaining over a new collective agreement in early October.

At the time, Clifford said the key priorities were recruitment and retention for the ambulance service, which he described as severely understaffed and poorly paid.