Paramedics union concerned grudge delaying winter jackets

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This article was published 17/10/2017 (2970 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The president of the local ambulance paramedics union is concerned a dispute with Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) Chief John Lane is holding up delivery of winter-wear jackets promised three years ago.

Ryan Woiden of Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union (MGEU) Local 911 said the winter jackets have been purchased and placed in storage for almost a year — but city officials have not explained why they haven’t been made available, despite repeated assurances.

Woiden said Lane’s testimony at a labour arbitration hearing last week left the impression paramedics are being punished because of a filed grievance and what Lane admitted was his mistrust of successive Local 911 executive members.

“Some of our paramedics have been wearing the same jackets for 17 years — my jacket is 17 years old,” Woiden said. “We heard what the chief said on the stand. We hope that he’s not withholding the jackets because of a personal vendetta against us. We really can’t wait much longer.”

The arbitration hearing was the result of a grievance filed by Local 911 against the City of Winnipeg for what it said was the city’s failure to act on the findings of a respectful workplace complaint against Lane.

Lane testified Friday he’s been mistrustful of successive Local 911 union executives since he became chief three years ago, saying he was disappointed various union officials have repeatedly expressed concern on patient safety issues. Lane said he also questioned the motives of the 156 paramedics who signed the respectful workplace complaint against him in August 2015, which was upheld by an independent investigator a year later.

Lane was confronted over the issue of the missing winter-wear jackets during his cross-examination Friday by union lawyer Keith LaBossiere. Lane appeared at times confused on the subject, offering three different explanations for why the jackets haven’t been made available to paramedics: his mistrust of the union executive; a budget issue; and “an outstanding item with” the union executive.

New recruits are issued winter-wear jackets along with their uniforms. Existing paramedic staff are allotted 600 points each year that they can use to replace worn-out components of their uniform (e.g. winter gloves, 20 points; polo shirt, 70 points; blue dress shirt, 50 points; toque, 7 points; winter footwear, 175 points; T-shirt, 10 points).

While the collective agreement states paramedic duty jackets (inner shell, 203 points; outer shell, 475 points) can be acquired every four years, Woiden said paramedics need department approval to get the jackets.

The WFPS had been trial testing new jackets, Woiden said, and paramedics were holding on to their old ones until a new style was approved. Now, even with the new jackets available in storage, he said, paramedics haven’t been able to acquire them.

“Winter is coming. Our paramedics need jackets. Some don’t have jackets, some have old, ripped jackets,” Woiden said. “I don’t know why they would risk the safety of paramedics by not issuing these jackets.”

Woiden said the union is considering filing another grievance to force city hall to release the jackets.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca