** Memorial service held for LA paramedic killed in off duty plane crash
** Ontario paramedics in Hamilton settle contract after lengthy arbitration
UNITED STATES NEWS
** A memorial service was held Tuesday in Van Nuys for a Los Angeles paramedic killed June 9th in an off duty plane crash. The Daily News (June 17) said the commemoration for Saugus resident Brian Lee, 47, was held at the Los Angeles Fire Department’s Air Operations Facility Fire Station 114. The casket, which was covered by a US flag, was transported to the site via helicopter. An honour guard then accompanied it to the service. Internment followed in Newhall. Lee perished around 11:15 a.m. near the El Mirage Dry Lake recreation area. He was giving a plane ride to the son of a family friend. The boy, Sebastian Grewal, 8, succumbed to his injuries four days later in hospital. The cause of the crash remains under scrutiny.
CANADA NEWS
** Paramedics in Hamilton, Ontario have settled their contract through arbitration, with the resulting wage hike being 7.85 per cent over four years. That is the word from the Metro News (June 18) which quoted union officials as saying the decision is somewhat disappointing after 2 1/2 years of waiting for the ruling. OPSEU Local 256 president Mario Posteraro said members also felt the increase should have been greater. The settlement is the third time since 2000 that a contract has been decided via binding arbitration. At that time, EMS responsibility passed from the province to the local level. Wages for PCPs in year four will now sit at $37.38/hr up from $34.58. ACPs will go from $38.59 to $41.71. The union’s original goal for the contract was upping wages by 2.5 per cent per year.
