Letter Rip: Viewers Come To Paramedics’ Defence
Posted June 25, 2009 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It’s Day Four of the CUPE strike, and as garbage grows on the streets and in the parks, so does the anger. Surveys show most of the public does not support the 30,000 workers who are off the job in a contract dispute. But reports indicate their leaders have told the membership to carry on and fight for their cause, despite the opposition and clashes that have already led to some bitter confrontations on the picket lines.
Your email is gathering as fast as that trash. In this latest random sampling from the CityNews inbox, some defend the absent workers, while others take up the cause for some disgruntled paramedics, whose letters we featured here on Wednesday.
As always, your input is welcome at news@cityNews.ca
“I have to agree with Derek, people in Toronto should not be taking it out on the paramedics that are working and risking their lives to save others, and yes, we understand they picked these jobs and it was their decision, but imagine a city without any paramedics.
“They have to stand up for themselves and yes it may not be the best time with the recession and many people losing their jobs, but when is it a good time? There will always be something, SARS, SWINE FLU and so forth. I think the government does have to step in and get this mess figured out …
“What people don’t understand is we live in a city were we all have the right to our options, which means the paramedics have the right for theirs, without being judged so badly.”
Carla
“I don’t agree with him but it’s just an opinion and like all opinions, they come far worse from many more unheard folks who don’t have the courage to share in fear of this type of backlash. I don’t agree with any of the strikes that have made news as of late, ANY, regardless of “essential services” because of the economic situation alone…
“I think strikes should simply be “quitting.” I know if I walked off my job, that’s exactly how my employer would interpret it.”
Justin M
“I have had the opportunity to see what these medics do first hand. It was during a “ride along” a few years ago. Let me assure everyone who reads this that the paramedics earn every cent, sick day and vacation day they get … and more! It is a hellish job, that’s made worse by the sheer volume of calls that happen on a daily basis. A medic that works in the city of Toronto deserves a lot more because they do a lot more.”
Sean O.
“I don’t know of any job more important than a paramedic. Last Canada Day, my one- year-old daughter was burned badly by a flash fire in Vineland. If it wasn’t for the paramedics, I don’t think I could have made it through that day. They are there no matter what. They help the injured but are also there to help the uninjured get through it. My hats off to all those paramedics/firemen and policemen out there that risk their lives to save others.”
Michelle C.
“Do you really want to cut paramedics’ sick days? First of all, they are exposed to sick people all the time. Secondly do you want a sick paramedic treating a family member, maybe your elderly parents, or your young child?
“I know that we are all in a financially difficult time, but this isn’t a new problem for the city. Instead of blaming the workers who are trying to stand up for their rights, people should be pressuring the city and demanding a resolution. Remember no one wants to be on strike.”
Justin W.
“I am completely taken aback by the venom being spewed by the people of Toronto towards Toronto paramedics. I am a Toronto paramedic. There are days I hate my job, there are days I love my job. I go to work knowing that I may or may not be exposed to diseases. I take that risk. In exchange I am given 18 8-hour shifts (12 – 12 hour shifts) that sometimes I have to use…sometimes I don’t.
“I can “bank” them in case I get terribly ill from being exposed to a patient. I cannot tell you how many times people or nurses have “forgotten” to mention that the patient had a communicable disease (i.e. TB, Shingles, Hepatitis C, Meningitis). When you go to your office job how often are you coughed in the face by an ill patient? How many times do you have to carry people that weigh 250 pounds or more up and down stairs? Would you like to know how many paramedics have back injuries? Permanent damage from helping people? Yet we still show up to work!
“…Personally I’m completely frustrated by the complete lack of understanding and respect the public has towards us. That’s their choice. Hopefully they will never need an ambulance…maybe if they ever do their opinion will change. In the meantime I would hope the media would get the story right instead of the inaccuracies they are publishing now.”
Sarah Z.
“What is wrong with the citizens of Toronto? The paramedics are fighting for what they believe is important as are all the other Local 416 outside workers. Unfortunately yes, they are negotiating at a time of economic demise but please remember they didn’t just start fighting in the last few days.
“The paramedics have a constant struggle to be seen by the government and obviously the public as an essential service like fire and police. How can the paramedics not be frustrated with the treatment that they receive from both the general public and the government?
“The comments made in regards to Derek and Mandy’s e-mail prove it. Did any of the commenters read what was actually being said by these medics? I didn’t think so. Paramedics are professionals who are well trained to provide emergency services at various levels of acuity and often in difficult and challenging environments …
“Paramedics are not just “drivers” that take you or your loved one to the hospital when they are sick. They are your health care providers until you get to the hospital. Obviously these people who are commenting have no idea nor do they care about learning about what paramedics do on a daily basis …
“I am an Emergency Room nurse with 20 years experience who is proud to work with paramedics as part of the health care team. I am also proud to be married to one of the paramedics involved in this.”
Lynn Y.
“As a fellow paramedic, I understand what these 2 medics were trying to say though I believe some of their statements were far from tasteful and out right insulting to not only the general public but to the rest of us who love our job. But I believe I understand what they were trying to point out so please allow me to do that in a much more respectful way for everyone!!
“For those of you who believe we are an essential service, think again. We are not!! We would love to be declared one though and have lobbied for many years to earn such a title … But the city of Toronto and other surrounding areas have refused to recognize this and as a result, you have EMS on strike with other Toronto city workers because we are under the same union! Something we have tried to avoid for many years!!
“Fire and police are both considered essential services, and as such have their own union. EMS instead is grouped in with other city workers. The problem existing here is that while I don’t believe EMS should receive special treatment for doing their job, I do believe that our needs greatly differ from your waste management employees or child day care worker or city pool managers. So why are we forced in with them??
“So when the city fights to take away something that seems like excess for Toronto workers doing a 9-5, Monday-Friday job, sometimes it’s not justified to take that from a workforce of shift workers that really has very little in common.
“By not declaring EMS an essential service, when you want to take away things from other city workers, you are also removing those same very much required aspects from individuals working a very hard 12 hour day or more on the road.
“Did you know on average day, paramedics will lift 5 200lbs. patients up and down stairs, in and out of bed and into and out of an ambulance? We perform high risk medical skills in uncontrolled environments, endure enormous amounts of stress and we work very hard!
“… I don’t believe EMS should be allowed to strike, I believe the city requires them to respond to emergencies just like the other emergency services! But legally, they can so help change this!! Help EMS become an essential service and prevent this from happening again! I believe paramedics deserve this not only for the work they do but to make Toronto a safer place!!
A fellow paramedic
“I’ve never heard or seen a situation where a paramedic refuses to do treat someone because the person is contagious. They are subjected to every disease out there every minute of their job. I agree that it is ridiculous to have 18 sick days a year and allowing it to be carried on for someone who sits in an air-conditioned office doing regular office duties. But it frustrates me to see some one bashed so badly for expressing his opinion. So much hatred out there for people until it comes to your time when you need their help.”
Roberta F.
“I’m becoming frustrated with media coverage exclusively focusing on garbage collectors. It is not the true representation of who is on strike. There is more to CUPE 416 and 79 then just sanitation workers. We are public health nurses, social services workers, inspectors, real estate, accounting, courts, paramedics, children services, parks and recs, water and tax, engineers, clerical, shelter workers, counsellors and many more who dedicated their lives to serving the residents.
“Mayor Miller sent out 24,000 taxpaying workers into the streets, with no consideration of overall impact on Toronto’s economy. It is 24,000 people without pay, without money to spend, to pay bills, to pay mortgages. And he (Miller) has done it when he cries recession.
“I’m also frustrated with residents’ comments how anyone can do my job, my city employee job. There are a lot of job opportunities with the City, and all can apply if you have the qualifications. I’ve been working for 18 years for the City and have just realized how the residents really feel about me and the service that I have provided to them over all these years. How naive I’ve been.”
Catherine U.
“You don’t deserve any support from the public sector and I wouldn’t be announcing in public what you do for a living. I’m sorry – has anyone ever heard of GM or Chrysler? Greed, Greed, Greed.”
Carolyn
“Everyone is broadcasting about the strike and how it affects garbage. There is very little information on the other areas of service being affected. Specifically the city is not available to issue building permits. This is creating hardship for companies and employees who can not start of complete work without these permits in place.”
Audrey P.
“The unions should not be allowed to hold the city hostage. The residents should take the initiative and resolve the matters themselves – each community should get together to commission private garbage removal companies to take away the garbage in their area. Split the cost amongst all the owners and each owner should deduct that amount from their property taxes when they pay.
“Regardless how long the strike goes on, the private companies should be retained, therefore eliminating the possibility of this happening again…
“For the daycares, again, find another daycare that’s not city-run. Easier said than done, I know, I’ve got 2 kids of my own but luckily I’m not affected by the strike in that regard. Still, at a time like this, I can’t imagine existing daycares would be unable to expand to accommodate the needs of the population – we all need to work together and help each other out!”
TDV
“I wish my husband was not on strike. However, he is due to the vote that was placed. As an employee of the City of Toronto you have no choice but to join the union and if the union is on strike you do not get to decide to cross the line. If you cross the line then you forfeit any and all pay to the union and the union is also able to issue punishments for the decision to go to work. So, the employees on strike have little choice now.
“A strike vote is voted on by getting employees to travel downtown in the evenings to a meeting to vote. Those who have activities with their families and were unable to get to the meetings never got to vote. Once a strike vote is mandated the union decides when they go on strike and when they return to work.
“The 18 days of sick days not being bankable…I have little problem with them removing that clause as long as they remove the Attendance Management program. Currently City employees who utilize their sick days get attendance reviews and harassed over the number of days they take off. If you get sick with pneumonia, or any illness it’s the same way …
“With the current usage of the Attendance Management program most employees come into work sick infecting each other and the public with all sorts of illnesses and end up at the end of they year with excessive number of sick days which are banked.
Several years ago they allowed that employees could bank up to six months. However, prior to that employees had banked huge amounts yes. Now the rules are they can only cash out six months at a time. So if you had excess yes you got to keep it but you’re still restricted to six months at a time maximum as a cash out at the end. No five year stock piling as seems to be implied in the media. So, most employees are slowly trying to use up their sick time prior to their retirement …
“Right now sick days are earned at a rate of 1 1/2 per month. However, if you are ill without pay you’re not allowed to accumulate your sick days until you have a month without illness. So, you use up your 1 1/2 sick days but can’t accumulate until you stop being sick. Fine, give them the 18 sick/personal leave days at the beginning of the year, let them use it as they want and not be able to bank it from now on. However, don’t impose rules and restrictions on the employees to get those days.
“If you want to accumulate your sick days so you can use them you have to use vacation days to pay for your sick days to allow your sick days to be usable under the current system leading to using vacation days for sick days and sick days for vacation. Sounds a little crazy doesn’t it? The current design of the system actually leads to the employees hoarding their sick days so when they’re really sick they will actually have them.”
JJ
