Signatures for paramedics

Photo: Kate Bouey

Despite the bad weather, area paramedics got some public support Thursday for their demand to be given the same collective bargaining rights as firefighters and police officers.

A group of paramedics collected signatures in support of their demands Thursday at Safeway in the Vernon Square Mall.

"We got a few hundred signatures, which is great," said paramedic Josh Henshaw.

"We're doing really well," said Drew Hilland, team leader of 40 paramedics in the Vernon area as well as others in Lumby, Armstrong and Salmon Arm.

Hilland said the local group would be out again collecting signatures and the dates would be posted online. 

Paramedics across B.C. want the the Fire and Police Services Collective Bargaining Rights Act to be amended.

Currently, they are not deemed as an essential service. This act would remove the right of ambulance paramedics to strike and the right of the employer to lockout during an impasse.

There are roughly 4,000 ambulance paramedics in the province.