The union representing nearly 6,000 ambulance paramedics in British Columbia says it is considering job action after contract talks with the province broke down.
Ambulance Paramedics of British Columbia (APBC) said in a release Tuesday that job action could include a strike.
The union said the two sides last held bargaining talks in mid-November, and no talks are currently scheduled.
“As part of preparing for potential job action, we are currently establishing essential service levels for paramedics and dispatchers,” said APBC president Jason Jackson in a statement.
“This is not where we expected or wanted to be,” said Jackson. “We are deeply concerned about what will happen if government fails to take these negotiations seriously.”
The union said it is seeking stronger protections against contracting out, improved deployment models for underserved and rural communities, and enhanced mental health and wellness supports for frontline workers.
APBC communications and social media director Ian Tait said wages and benefits are also sticking points in the negotiations.
He said paramedics are mandated with essential service orders that will preserve services in the event of job action. But he said even small disruptions to B.C.’s strained health care system could have significant domino effects, especially in smaller, rural communities.
“When we look at staffing and we look at what’s happening with ER closures across the province, it’s the ambulance service and the paramedics that are filling those gaps,” said Tait.
“We don’t think it’s an appropriate thing to affect health care, but at the same time we have very little options available to us so we have to explore those options,” he said.
Tait said the union is aiming to conduct strike vote around late January or early February. In the meantime, he said he’s hopeful the two sides can return to the bargaining table, possibly with the help of a mediator.
The Health Employers Association of B.C. (HEABC) said in an emailed statement it “respects the right of unions to pause negotiations and consult with their members which can be a normal part of the collective bargaining process.”
“HEABC is prepared to continue bargaining to address the issues that both parties believe are important and we look forward to continuing to work with the union to resolve outstanding issues and reach a renewed agreement,” said the statement.
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