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County of Hastings paramedics ratify new agreement
Belleville, Ont. Paramedics in Hastings County have voted 78 per cent to ratify a new collective agreement that improves their working conditions and strengthens our community’s emergency services.
This is a fair deal for front-line paramedics and a good deal for our communities, said Mike Slatter, President of CUPE 1842, which represents 80 full-time and 55 part-time paramedics based in Belleville, Picton, Madoc, Trenton and Bancroft.
Paramedics voted last night and this morning 78 per cent to accept the new agreement. Hastings County councilors will decide on the deal on Monday, July 7.
Slatter encouraged the councilors to accept the deal.
Management came to the table with a positive attitude, and that enabled us to reach this agreement, so we encourage Hastings County Council to support it, Slatter said.
The strengthened agreement includes improvements to part-time scheduling and benefits along with pay increases of 6.25 per cent in 2008, and 3 per cent in both 2009 and 2010. Importantly, the new agreement also includes recognition for Hastings County to develop a critical stress action plan. Stress is a major health hazard for paramedics, and workers welcome the County’s willingness to tackle the problem.
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For further information, please contact:
Mike Slatter, President, CUPE 1842
(613) 771 9644
David Robbins, CUPE Communications
(613) 878 1431
