Paramedics shadow Liberal leader to protest staff shortages across the province

The president of a union representing Ambulance New Brunswick paramedics is shadowing Liberal Leader Brian Gallant on the campaign trail hoping to bring attention to workplace issues in the final days of the election.

Greg McConaghy,president of the paramedics and dispatchers union CUPE local 4848, called the move a "cry for help."

The union has waged a public relations campaign called#systemCRITICAL to bring attention to workforce issues, including staff shortagesthat have left ambulances parked.McConaghyand another paramedicheld signs with the slogan at a Gallant campaign event in Riverviewon Wednesday.

Gallant met with union members Tuesday evening after his bus was diverted from an event in Miramichi because of their protest.

"We've listened to their concerns," Gallant said Wednesday morning in Saint John. "We understand why they are frustrated, because there are challenges when it comes to paramedics and ambulance services in this provincelike every other provinceacross the country."

He offered the same message at a later stop inMonctonwhile the paramedics watched from a corner of the room holding signs and flags.

McConaghysaid job postings are filled by part-time or casual workers, not full-time employees. Language qualificationsare a factor, he said.

Alabour arbitrator orderedAmbulance New Brunswick in April to weaken its requirement for bilingual paramedics in areas of the province where there's less demand for second-language service.

The New Brunswick's Labour and Employment Board agreed with the union in anAugust decisionthatthe province had failed to follow the decision and ordered itto take action within 30 days.

McConaghysays the governmentstill hasn't taken actionand that's why they've been following Gallant.

But the decision is in conflict with an order by a Court of Queen's Bench judgeissued in November last year that implies it cannot.

The province filed an application for judicialreview in May, asking the court to quash the arbitration decision. Health Minister Benot Bourquesaid in April complying with the arbitration decision would risk violating the court order.

There's no decision yetand the case is next in court Dec. 20.

McConaghysaid the dispute is hurting New Brunswickerswho need help in an emergency.

"You're seeing around the province what's happening: ambulances not responding to calls, not being able to get to calls," he said. "We're in a crisis."

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