“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…

“Solidarity means collective responsibility for public health”: CUPE Ontario responds to concerning tweets

Municipal, Paramedics, Solidarity

Yesterday, a CUPE paramedic local in Windsor-Essex published a concerning twitter thread that does not reflect the beliefs and values of our union, including those of the vast majority of first responders who are vaccinated. CUPE has always encouraged members to get vaccinated to protect themselves, their family, and their community. But the work is…

Paramedics call on Niagara EMS service to address staffing crisis as Code Zeroes increase during Omicron wave

COVID-19, Paramedics

TORONTO, ON – The staffing crisis in Niagara’s Emergency Medical Services has worsened during the ongoing Omicron wave and requires immediate attention as critical ambulance shortages grow, says the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 911. Niagara EMS service is witnessing frequent Code Zeros, occasions when there are no ambulances available to respond to 911…

Paramedics call for standardized mental health benefits as working conditions deteriorate through the pandemic

COVID-19, Governmental, Health and Safety, Paramedics

TORONTO, ON – The union representing most Ontario paramedics is calling on the provincial government to address mental health of emergency medical services staff amidst gruelling working conditions through the pandemic. “Paramedics and dispatchers have struggled with heavy workloads for years. But the sharp increase in call volumes and lengthier offload delays at hospitals during…

Niagara EMS must act now to protect patients who call 911, say CUPE paramedics

COVID-19, Health and Safety, Health Care, Paramedics

NIAGARA REGION, ON – The Niagara Region Emergency Medical Service (EMS) is putting people’s safety at risk by not providing paramedics and dispatchers the resources they need to serve patients, says Local 911 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE 911). The union is calling on Niagara EMS and the regional municipality to act…

EMS Survey

The CUPE Ambulance Committee of Ontario (CACO) has recently heard that the provincial government is intending to resume their consultations about the ‘modernization’ of emergency health services very soon. In 2019 the Conservative government announcement a plan to collapse the 52 land ambulance services and the 22 dispatch centres to 10 regional units each. The…

CUPE files legal challenge to OMERS’ punitive treatment of paramedics

Fix OMERS--updates, Health Care, Paramedics, Solidarity

TORONTO, ON – Today, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) filed a legal challenge with the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) about OMERS’ treatment of paramedic members accessing earlier retirement options. “Paramedics have been demanding that OMERS allow them fair access to earlier retirement options for over a decade,” said Fred Hahn,…

A letter to the Minister of Labour about the Workforce Recovery Advisory Committee

Bill 124, Communities Not Cuts, COVID-19, Governmental, Paramedics, School Boards, Social Services, University, Women's

July 8, 2021 Sent Via Email Hon. Monte McNaughton Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development 14th Floor, 900 University Avenue Toronto, ON M7A 1T7 Dear Minister McNaughton, I am writing in response to your announcement that the Ontario Ministry of Labour will undertake an Ontario Workforce Recovery Advisory Committee. The Committee is tasked with…

“A testament to the contributions of front-line workers, but there’s still more to do”: CUPE Ontario calls for more action to ensure safety in Step 3

COVID-19, Education, Governmental, Health and Safety, Human RIghts, Municipal, Paramedics, Racial Justice, Safe Schools, School Boards, Social Services, University

TORONTO, ON – Entering Step 3 early is a testament to the contributions of front-line workers but the Ford Conservatives are still failing to ensure safety and a recovery for all, says the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario. “Front-line workers kept us as safe as possible during this pandemic, with members of CUPE…