Ambulance Paramedics Mediator?

There are still conflicting reports regarding the appointment of a mediator, in the two-week-old strike by B-C’s ambulance paramedics.

Health Minister George Abbott agrees, a mediator appointed by the labour board has booked out — but says, from a legal perspective, he remains in place.

Mr. Abbott says the official could return to the talks, if that’s what paramedics or the B-C Ambulance Service wants.

However, union spokesman John Strohmaier says, the L-R-B mediator is a government employee and could be biased — so he believes only an independent third party, such as veteran mediator Vince Ready, can break the impasse