Front-line emergency services workers, nurses, speak out on Province’s plan to contract out hospital security

Nurses, ambulance paramedics, health care workers at increased risk; municipalities can expect more emergency calls to local police and fire departments

    When: 8:30 am Wednesday, November 27, 2002

    Where: Room 10 (upstairs) Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre 999 Canada Place

    Who: Representatives from: BC Professional Firefighters Association Ambulance Paramedics of B.C. — CUPE 873 BC Nurses’ Union Union of Psychiatric Nurses Compensation Employees’ Union Hospital Employees’ Union

    As health authorities throughout the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley gear up to eliminate their in-house security forces, and replace them with a low-waged private contractor, emergency personnel and health care workers say hospital security will be seriously compromised and municipalities will bear the brunt of increased costs for local police and firefighter response.

    -30- For more information please contact: Patty Gibson, communications officer, 604-328-7393 (cell)