COPE 378 Members Stand with Paramedics

COPE 378 members Ingrid Erickson, Shayla Williams and Executive Board member Susan Orr joined 250 trade unionists and activists outside Burnaby City Hall yesterday to voice their support for striking ambulance paramedics.

The paramedics, members of CUPE local 873, have been on strike since March 2009 and are the subject of offensive back-to-work legislation passed by the BC Liberal government. Bill 21 marks the first time a provincial government has legislated an end to a labour dispute while union members were voting on their last offer.

Canadian Labour Congress president Ken Georgetti spoke at the rally, condemning the BC government’s approach to emergency health services and pledging the support of the Canadian labour movement to the paramedic’s cause.