Presented by Ken Georgetti on Wednesday, 27 January 2010

(Check Against Delivery)

Sisters and Brothers, I want you to know that in this dispute with the government of BC, the 3.2 million workers who are members of the Canadian Labour Congress are on your side!

I bring a commitment of solidarity from the Canadian Labour Congress – a commitment that the Ambulance Paramedics of BC will never stand alone against this despicable BC Liberal government.

You know, some people back East ask me – why would Premier Gordon Campbell and his BC Liberal government pick a fight with Ambulance Paramedics, of all workers?
Why anger union members who provide one of the most fundamental public health care services imaginable – emergency ambulance service?

And I have a very simple answer for them – you don’t know Gordon Campbell.

Just think about it – the BC Liberals are responsible for all of these shameful things:

• The lowest minimum wage in Canada!
• The worst child poverty rates of any province for six straight years!
• Privatization of public services like BC Hydro;
• The most privatized health care in Canada;
• Attacks on unions through privatization of hospital services, ripping up legally negotiated contracts and firing thousands of workers;
• And now, legislating Ambulance Paramedics back to work with an insulting contract they don’t accept and would reject instantly in a democratic vote!
• And then holding an Industrial Inquiry Commission without a mutually agreed Commissioner – and then without the participation of the Ambulance Paramedics of BC! Ridiculous!

So when I say this is a despicable BC Liberal government – I mean it!

And all union members in BC should be worried that if this government can treat Ambulance Paramedics so badly, what will they do in public sector negotiations this spring?  Will they even bother negotiating?

So on behalf of all those workers – I urge you to keep up your fight, stand up for what’s right and don’t stop until you win !

Don’t stop until you win from this government the respect that all Ambulance Paramedics have earned – and deserve from serving the public – or until you defeat this government!