Huron County paramedics deliver near-unanimous strike vote as negotiations flat line

GODERICH, ON – Paramedics with Huron County Paramedic Services have delivered a resounding yes in their first-ever strike vote, sending a clear message to the County of Huron that mental health supports, wages, and benefits must improve.

CUPE 4513’s 112 paramedics have historically relied on arbitration to resolve outstanding bargaining issues. This vote marks a significant shift for the local and reflects the severity of the issues members are facing as they deal with stagnating wages, increasing pressures on the emergency medical services, and a growing population.

Every single CUPE 4513 member participated in the vote, with 99 per cent of members voting to authorize a strike.

“We’ve put our fate in someone else’s hands through arbitration for years and that’s how we’ve ended up in this position. Now we’re taking control to fight for the resources we need,” said Kelsy Long, a paramedic with over 14 years of experience and president of CUPE 4513. “No paramedic wants to strike but I am incredibly proud of our members for taking this step. We need a sustainable service that can meet our communities’ needs while taking care of the people who provide that care.”

Wages and benefit levels for Huron County paramedics have fallen behind comparable paramedic services causing a staffing crisis in the service. Since 2016, members have received only $6 in wage increases while inflation over the same period reached 28.84 per cent.

Staffing pressures are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. Four paramedics have left the service since the summer alone while seven have left since CUPE 4513’s last contract expired. Despite these departures, management has denied that the service is experiencing a staffing crisis.

The two sides have made progress on several bargaining priorities identified by the members, including float provisions, job posting language, and leave for family-related responsibilities. However, significant differences remain the issues members have identified as priorities, including mental health benefits, wages and benefits.

Management’s wage proposal would leave Huron County paramedics behind neighbouring services, including Perth County, where paramedics have recently secured wage increases totaling 18 per cent, and Bruce County, where increases have reached 20 per cent. Meanwhile, management has yet to offer improvements to benefits, including the mental health supports paramedics need to cope with the demands of their work.

“We’re being told it’s one or the other, wages or mental health benefits. Other services, though, have found the money for competitive wages while giving paramedics the resources they need to care for themselves.” said Long. “We shouldn’t have to fight so hard for a contract that respects our contribution and provides for our families.”

Paramedics understand the seriousness of a strike vote and do not take this step lightly. They held two days of member meetings to ensure everyone understood what’s at stake. The strong result reflects the depth of members’ frustration and their determination to secure a fair agreement that recognizes their contribution to the community.

“Since our collective agreement expired, the County has offered only six days of bargaining and has limited its availability to normal business hours. Our negotiating committee has been willing to meet on additional dates and for longer sessions to move these negotiations forward,” said Long. “Our members deserve timely progress toward a fair agreement. We are ready to put in the time, and we are asking the County to make the same commitment.”

The two sides are set to resume bargaining on November 23 and 24. CUPE 4513 has requested a conciliation, but one has yet to be appointed.