The paramedics' union is encouraging members to vote down a government offer, which the union says addresses none of paramedics' needs.
"Basically we disagree with the whole thing," said union spokesperson B.J. Chute.
Last month, the union and the government resumed talks, with some optimism that the six-month strike might be nearing resolution. But the situation has once again degenerated, and the union has accused the B.C. Ambulance Service of breaking a mutually-agreed upon media blackout and of fear-mongering.
With the offer on the table, the strike now moves into another month of limbo, as the union must wait until early November for all the votes to be mailed in and tallied.
Chute said the offer falls well short of what paramedics are looking for.
"Their version of an industrial inquiry commission is to investigate only the service delivery model put forward by the government," he said. "So paramedics are not invited to be part of the investigation, they're not invited to make recommendations to the IIC, nor are members of the public or any other stakeholders from the community."
