HALTON - Paramedics at Halton Regional Ambulance Service have
ratified a new collective agreement that they say sets the standard
for safe, high-quality ambulance service in Ontario.
The contract, which provides competitive wage rates, also
recognizes employees’ years of service to their former employer and
removes the threat of strikes or lockouts, providing for interest
arbitration to settle contract disputes.
“By keeping experienced, trained professionals on the job, this
collective agreement has guaranteed a smooth transition to the era of
downloaded ambulance service,” said Gord Armes, president of Local
207 of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union and chair of the
union bargaining team.
Key to the deal was the Region’s decision to establish a separate
bargaining unit for paramedics, similar to police and fire-fighters’
bargaining units.
“Having a stand-alone bargaining unit made all the difference,”
said Armes. “It showed from the start that the Region respected and
recognized the special and critical nature of the service we provide.
There was a real spirit of co-operation on both sides.”
The Region made the right decision by keeping ambulance service
separate from other municipal services, Armes said.
“This arrangement gives municipalities the ability to keep
improving ambulance services by focusing resources on saving lives.”
“Halton Region has shown the way for other municipalities who
have been forced to deal with the chaos caused by the Mike Harris
government’s downloading,” said OPSEU president Leah Casselman.
“We’d encourage other municipalities to study Halton’s example
closely. The potential benefits from recognizing the true value of
ambulance service and professional paramedics cannot be overestimated.”
The new contract will cover over 100 paramedics at Halton Regional
Ambulance Service.
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For more information: Gord Armes (905) 336-7312
