An OPSEU win means ambulance paramedics in Ontario can stop worrying about losing their jobs if they get six driving demerit points.

"We fought the government over this six-and-out rule," said President Leah Casselman. "Our victory benefits every paramedic in Ontario."

Last February the Ministry of Health changed an Ambulance Act regulation to require firing any paramedic with six demerit points. Three seat belt violations or two speeding tickets would do it. The rest of us can accumulate up to 15 demerit points before there is any penalty – a 30-day licence suspension.

Ambulance operators were required to do random checks on their paramedics’ driving records. Any with six demerit points had to be fired. Between April and September, four OPSEU paramedics lost their jobs under this rule.

"The rule discriminated, because it hit only ambulance paramedics. And it was also retroactive," said Jamie Ramage, former ambulance division vice-chair. "Two of my members lost their jobs over infractions that occurred a year before the policy became law."

"Our employers didn’t like it any more than we did," said Ramage.

"This policy was a threat to our members and to the high quality of service they provide. We had to let the public know that lives could be at risk," said Casselman. In August, OPSEU began to circulate a petition to "deep six the six-and-out rule" and reinstate the fired paramedics.

Despite support from both Ontario ambulance operators associations, the government refused to budge.

This angered Lorne Hart of Hamilton, a 28-year paramedic with Superior Ambulance who was fired.

"What upset me most was that I had no chance to appeal. I was not offered alternative employment, I was fired and put out on
the street," he said.

Daryl Cheney was just beginning his career with Superior Ambulance when the policy ended his job in June. He was stunned. "I went to school to become a paramedic. I was hired over 500 other applicants. I love my job and now it’s gone because of a traffic violation in 1998. It’s not fair, it has no bearing on how well I do my job," he said.

Both Cheney and Hart told their story to reporters at a rally at Queen’s Park on Oct. 25. Ramage and other OPSEU ambulance leaders delivered their petition with more than 5,000 signatures to the ministry. They told ministry officials of their concerns and demanded immediate reinstatement of the fired paramedics.

On Nov. 2, the Ministry reversed the rule.

At first, the government said it was up to the employers to rehire the paramedics. OPSEU continued its pressure. "The Ministry of Health must admit that it made a mistake and the people it hurt should get their jobs back," said Casselman.