B.C. paramedics union, province agree on tentative new contract

The union representing more than 4,500 paramedics and emergency dispatchers in B.C. and the provincial government have reached a tentative deal on a new contract .

The deal comes after more than nine months of negotiations between the Ambulance Paramedics of BC, its employer BC Emergency Health Services and the province, with the last collective agreement having expired on April 1, 2022.

Details of the potential new deal aren’t being released yet, as it’s now up to members of the union to vote on whether they want to ratify it. Ambulance Paramedics of BC said in a news release this will happen over the coming weeks.

Union president Troy Clifford did say the new deal will acknowledge the unique challenges of the profession.

“Our members and service have been undervalued for years, making it impossible to keep up with recruitment and retention of highly trained paramedics and dispatchers,” Clifford said.

“This has affected our ability to respond to people in their time of need. We have[n’t] been acknowledged appropriately for a long time, and our service has deteriorated as a result.”

https://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/local-news/bc-paramedics-union-province-agree-on-tentative-new-contract-6344968

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