Unionized Superior North EMS staff working outside of Thunder Bay have voted 97 per cent in favour of a strike mandate.
The employees’ collective agreement expired at the end of last October.
Negotiations on a new deal got underway in April between the union and Thunder Bay with a Ministry of Labour-appointed mediator.
Those talks ended without a resolution.
“This is a serious warning that our members have reached a breaking point,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “The staffing crisis in Northern Ontario is very serious, and it’s time for the City of Thunder Bay to step up.”
The union wanted to send a couple of the monetary issues to arbitration, but the city rejected that offer.
“Recruitment and retention are in crisis in the Superior North EMS District,” said Unifor Local 229 President Kari Jefford. “We’re short over 18 part-time and three full-time medics, and only 19 of 86 live in the district. Members are working seven-day shifts, 24 hours on-call, sleeping in base stations or rentals. They’re burning out, and communities are being left behind.”
The union says that without progress, many communities may face ambulance service gaps in the coming months.
Additional mediation is taking place on Monday and Tuesday in a final effort to reach an agreement that can be brought to members for ratification.
The bargaining committee is concerned that Thunder Bay has no intention of resolving the core monetary issues.
Unifor Local 229 represents health care workers in hospitals, long-term care homes and emergency services across northern Ontario, including more than 80 paramedics in the Superior North EMS District.
Superior North EMS operates 14 EMS stations located outside of Thunder Bay.
Thunder Bay responded to the mandate on Monday.
The city highlights that a strike mandate is a routine part of the bargaining process and does not place the union in a legal strike position.
“We have great respect for the essential work our paramedics do every day,” said Acting City Manager Kerri Marshall. “We remain fully engaged in ongoing discussions with union leadership to reach a resolution.“
During negotiations, SNEMS continues to provide emergency medical services throughout the Thunder Bay District.
“Our top priority remains the health and safety of the public,” said Superior North EMS Chief Shane Muir.
