Monday, June 15, 2009
** Oklahoma paramedic placed in choke hold by police planning lawsuit?
** South Australian ambulance union suing uniform manufacturer
** Toronto medics inching closer to strike?
UNITED STATES NEWS
** The lawyer representing an Oklahoma paramedic who was put in a choke hold by police says a civil lawsuit could soon be in the offing. That is the word from Newson6 (Tara Vreeland/June 11) which said council for paramedic Maurice White intend to use the legal route to force police to release dash cam video taken during the May 24 confrontation. So far, police have refused to do so, though a cell phone video shot by the son of the EMS patient being transported has made appearances on both TV and the Internet. The news of the lawsuit comes just one day after word broke that the state trooper involved in the scuffle has been suspended with pay. In commenting on this development, White said his main aim is now to ensure that future confrontations do not happen.
AUSTRALIA NEWS
** South Australia’s ambulance union says it will sue a uniform manufacturer after several paramedics suffered allergic reactions to a chemical in the fabric. ABC News (Haley Conole/June 12) quoted Ambulance Employees Association (AEA) spokesman Phil Palmer as saying the problem has been compounded by the unknown contaminant lingering on station furniture, curtains, and carpets. According to Palmer, nearly 200 ambulance officers suffered allergic reactions to the uniforms which were initially issued three years ago. At least one practitioner continues to seek hospital aid each time she reports for weekly duty. An independent report on the problem has recommended a deep cleaning of affected stations. Union reps have said they want furnishings replaced, but SA Health Minister John Hill has declined the action, saying it would be too drastic. Though not yet identified, the offending chemical is believed to be in the fabric’s dye.
CANADA NEWS
** Toronto EMS medics could be moving closer to strike. That, at least, is the possibility being dangled by Sun Media (Bryn Weese/June 12) which said the union will be in a legal strike position June 22 at 12:01 a.m. Lumped in with outside toilers, including garbage workers, parks and pool personnel, providers would still operate under essential services guidelines which would see ambulance service reduced to 75 per cent of normal functioning. CUPE Local 416 president Mark Ferguson said the main issues involve eroded seniority rights and sick leave policy. Although wages have yet to be confronted, the newspaper quoted an unofficial government spokesman as saying the city plans to offer 0 per cent for the next two years and only 1 per cent in year three.
