Friday, July 27, 2007

** Arbitrator assigned for Calgary medics

** Female UK medic threatened with knife

CANADA NEWS

** Alberta lawyer David Jones has been assigned to arbitrate the paramedics’ deal in Calgary. That is the word from the CBC (July 26) which said Jones, who is known as a negotiations expert, would step in to decide on a settlement should the union and city continue to be at loggerheads. Both sides have until August 15 to hammer out an agreement. Wages are the main sticking point between the two. Medics have asked for an 18 per cent salary increase over three years, plus market adjustments;the city, meanwhile, has offered 12 per cent. The labour contract expired in June of last year.

UNITED KINDOM NEWS

** A July 12th incident, in which a female medic was threatened by four men with a knife, has outraged London Ambulance Service brass. The Wanstead and Woodford Guardian (Carl Brown/July 26) quoted east London operations assistant director Jason Killens as saying the Leyton call was both shocking and unacceptable. According to the newspaper, the female practitioner was coaxed out of her EMS car around 6:15 p.m., after observing a group of 30 men participating in a disturbance. Four of the culprits ordered her to surrender her flak jacket. After she refused, the woman managed to hail police. Killens said such problems are preventing practitioners from properly attending to their job. During 2005/06, recorded physical abuse incidents against EMS workers logged in at 341.