“We’re Uniting for a Fair Contract”: Peterborough County/City Paramedics present a banner signed by 200 people ahead of conciliation

Paramedics

(Peterborough, ON) – We’re working to ease the recruitment and retention crisis facing Peterborough County/City paramedics, said CUPE Local 4911 as they hosted a member engagement photo opportunity in front of Peterborough Regional Hospital, displaying a banner signed by over 200 people supporting their efforts. “Peterborough residents rely on paramedics who can respond rapidly to…

“We need to recruit and retain workers now”: CUPE Local 4911 calls on Peterborough Paramedic Service to come back with a better offer in bargaining

Health Care, Paramedics

(Peterborough, ON) – What the Peterborough County/City Paramedics is proposing to paramedics in negotiations isn’t good enough and that’s why negotiations have broken down, says the union representing them, CUPE Local 4911. “Staffing at the Peterborough County/City Paramedics has become a real problem,” says Natalie Waters, President of the CUPE Local 4911. “There are many…

“Don’t risk lives by outsourcing our work”: CUPE Local 1842 paramedics call on Hastings County Council to keep lift assistance work in their hands

Health Care, Paramedics

BELLEVILLE, ON – A proposal to transfer lift assistance work out of the hands of paramedics was discussed at Hastings County Council and needs to be opposed, said CUPE Local 1842. “Paramedics are the ones who know how to determine if someone’s hurt and can properly attend to them if they are,” said Rob Cunningham,…

“A province-wide staffing strategy needed for paramedics:” CUPE calls on Ford government to fix a sector in crisis

Paramedics

As Ontario marks Paramedic Services Week (May 21-27), CUPE draws attention to recent data showing surging demand and rise in incidents of zero ambulance availability. Toronto, ON – As critical ambulance shortages rise across the province, the union representing the majority of paramedics in Ontario is calling on the provincial government to work on a…

Federal healthcare funds must be invested in paramedics and the broader public healthcare system: CUPE Paramedics

Health Care, Paramedics

TORONTO, ON – The $74 billion ten-year healthcare deal between the Ontario and the federal government is a positive step but the funds must be immediately used to improve paramedic services and bolster the public health care system, says Niko Georgiadis, the chair of the CUPE Ontario Ambulance Committee that represents the majority of paramedics…

“Repeal Bill 124”: CUPE Ontario launches campaign to support frontline workers

Bill 124, Child Care, Governmental, Health Care, Municipal, Paramedics, School Boards, Social Services, University

Toronto, ON – Now’s the time to finally repeal the Constitution-violating legislation which caps total compensation, including wages, for public sector workers to only 1 per cent, said the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario during a press conference. “The Ford Conservatives have simply done nothing to deal with the skyrocketing cost of living,”…

“We are approaching a major crisis of care:” Kenora District paramedics call for provincial and municipal investments in emergency services and community health

COVID-19, Paramedics, Solidarity

Kenora, ON – CUPE Local 5911 paramedics serving the District of Kenora are advocating for investments from the provincial and municipal governments to improve ambulance coverage for patients calling 911 and working conditions for paramedics. In addition to more direct funding for the paramedic service, the union is also calling for investments in community health…

“Paramedics deserve urgent attention”: CUPE Ontario’s First Responders’ Day statement

COVID-19, Governmental, Paramedics, Solidarity

On May 1 2022, First Responders Day, we acknowledge the life-saving work of nearly 6,000 CUPE paramedics and dispatchers in Emergency Medical Services while calling attention to the crisis in the sector. Last October, when we surveyed CUPE EMS members, the results painted a bleak picture of understaffed paramedic services, widespread ambulance shortages, and severe…