Rural areas have poor working conditions for paramedics, demonstrators say

A small but fiery group of emergency responders took to the steps of Newfoundland and Labrador's legislature Monday to demand not only better pay, but better representation and schedules for people who are asked to get sick people to hospitals.

Not only that, the protesters — who work for private companies that serve rural communities — say the public is unaware that some people working in local ambulances may not be fully qualified paramedics.

"We're supposed to have a certain level of service," said one demonstrator, who wore a mask to to protect his identity at the rally outside Confederation Building. Like many, he would not discuss where he worked or identify his employer.

"We can barely attract medics out where we are now. We've been short-staffed for almost a year now. We have the smaller crew servicing the same area, trying to get out the same number of calls that many ambulances used to do."

'Residents are not aware of this'

Others, including Andrea Dooley Harris, said emergency medical responders (EMRs) working in rural areas often face gruelling schedules and lower pay than in cities and larger towns.

"For EMR, I've heard [of wages] as low as $12 and $13 an hour. So, you can go to McDonalds and make more ... and you have better benefits," she said.

"We don't have benefits. Some services don't provide uniforms, some do — it depends on the operator," said Dooley Harris, who said she must pay for her own uniform.

She added that in some areas, private operators who provide ambulance services do not always have employees with the appropriate training to handle every emergency.

"If you have somebody having a heart attack, do you want someone who can do cardiac monitoring, hook up IVs, give drugs or do you want someone who can give oxygen?" she said.

"The residents are not aware of this. And this is across the board from Goose Bay to Twillingate."

Several members of the House of Assembly came out to meet with the workers, who do not have any union representation.