The union representing more than 6,000 paramedics and dispatch staff said members have voted to ratify a new collective agreement.
Ambulance Paramedics of B.C. (APBC) said members voted more than 80 per cent in favour of the agreement.
APBC said the agreement follows months of negotiations between the union and the provincial government.
“Paramedics and dispatchers show up for British Columbians every day, often during the most difficult moments in people’s lives,” said APBC president Jason Jackson in a statement. “This agreement reflects the strength of our membership and the support we continue to see from the public for the critical work paramedics and dispatchers do in communities across the province.”
The union said the agreement will be implemented immediately, including processing retroactive payments and putting new provisions into place.
APBC and the Health Employers Association of B.C. entered negotiations in September. APBC announced it had reached an agreement in principle with the province on Feb. 20.
The ratification came days after the union said 97 per cent of members had voted in favour of strike action.
APBC communications director Ian Tait told Vista News last month the agreement includes an increased per-person amount for mental health and wellness supports, and improvements to evening and weekend premiums.
Tait said there will also be more training dollars to allow more emergency medical responders to increase their training level to become primary care paramedics.
