54 workers without contract since March 2017: Unifor
Unifor said it has set a strike deadline for midnight on Feb 28, for paramedics employed in the EMS (emergency medical services) division of Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services in Ontario.
"We are hopeful the conciliator will help us reach a fair resolution for our members before a strike or any reduction in services becomes necessary," said Laurie Lessard-Brown, Unifor Local 1359 president.
Unifor represents 54 paramedics who have been without a contract since March 2017. Negotiations have been ongoing since last spring, with a number of key issues on the table, including scheduling, meal breaks, shift premiums and concerns over contracting out, said the union.
Members voted 94 per cent in favour of strike action in November 2017. These paramedics are not covered by Ontario's Hospital Labour Disputes Arbitration Act. If a tentative agreement is not reached by the deadline, an essential services agreement which would see a reduction in EMS services has already been agreed to the by the parties, according to Unifor.
"We are in our fourth day of conciliation with the city and hope that this employer will come to realize that these workers deserve respect and must be treated fairly, with wages and benefits that are in line with other paramedics in the region and in Ontario," said Fred Bond, Unifor national representative.
