TORONTO – CUPE Paramedics met with MPPs at Queen’s Park today to bring attention to the ongoing underfunding of emergency medical services in Ontario. “Shortages of ambulances and staff, lack of hospital capacity, and heavy workloads are all things our members face on a daily basis, and underfunding from the provincial government is continuing to…
DetailsOn May 1, a day dedicated to sharing our pride and gratitude for our first responders, CUPE Ontario and CUPE Ambulance Committee of Ontario (CACO) are honoured to pay tribute to the skill, compassion and professionalism of CUPE paramedics and dispatchers – the people who provide us with urgent and life-saving care when emergency strikes.…
Details(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…
Details(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…
DetailsBELLEVILLE, 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,…
DetailsTORONTO – Ontario paramedics and their unions have won a major victory in their fight for fair access to early retirement after a decades-long campaign for pension fairness. The Ontario Municipal Employees’ Retirement System (OMERS), which is the defined benefit pension plan for paramedics, has finally amended the rules to provide paramedics the option of…
DetailsAs 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…
DetailsTORONTO, 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…
DetailsWINDSOR, ON: The paramedics of Essex County organized as CUPE 2974 have voted 100 per cent in favour of strike action in the event of an impasse during ongoing negotiations. The strike mandate comes after years of relentless advocacy by CUPE 2974 calling on the county to improve the quality of service the local community…
DetailsToronto, 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,”…
DetailsKenora, 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…
DetailsOn 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…
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