Union concerned about Alberta's ambulance takeover

A union representing some paramedics in Alberta is concerned that the provincial takeover of ambulance services will leave its members without a voice.

The Alberta government is taking over the costs and operations of all ground ambulance services April 1.

Right now, some paramedics are Canadian Union of Public Employees members, some are with the Health Sciences Association of Alberta, and others aren't unionized.

Rick Fraser, chair of a coalition representing CUPE paramedics in the province, held a news conference in Calgary Wednesday, saying he expects paramedics across the province will be forced to join the Health Sciences Association of Alberta.

"For the safety of the practitioner and the safety of the patients that we serve, we're asking to be able to represent ourselves," he said.

Partly a union turf war

He says paramedics are different from other health care workers because they face the dangers of the street and work inside hospitals.

"Nurses and doctors, each one of those has their own bargaining unit and they can specifically speak to the task that they are asked to perform. And that is what we are asking for," he said.

Fraser said if they can't have their own bargaining unit, he would feel more comfortable with the United Nurses of Alberta.

Elizabeth Ballerman, head of the Health Sciences Association of Alberta, said her union already represents half of the unionized paramedics.

"Our members work in all sorts of settings, including on the street, responding to emergencies, just as the CUPE people do, so that part of it is puzzling," she said.

Ballerman says it is partly a union turf war – CUPE doesn't want to lose members, and neither does her union.

The province's ambulance system currently comprises 500 ambulances, 3,000 workers and 80 service providers.