TORONTO – The Ontario Labour Relations Board has decided
ambulance paramedics in Hamilton should have their own bargaining
unit, and should be represented by the Ontario Public Service
Employees Union.
For Local 256 president Mario Posteraro, the decision is a
significant victory for the 200 ambulance paramedics he represents.
"We’re ecstatic that the board ruled as we thought was just
and right all along, We have the right to choose our bargaining
agent," he said.
"Our work is specialized and worthy of a stand-alone
bargaining unit in which we can have our issues represented by a union
that is traditionally committed to ambulance paramedics in this
province, and that is OPSEU.
OPSEU has traditionally represented the ambulance paramedics who
worked for the former Fleetwood, Superior and Danver ambulance
services, which Hamilton took over last Aug. 1 when ambulance services
were downloaded from the province to the municipalities.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents about
2,000 city workers, claimed it should also represent the paramedics.
The paramedics voted 99 per cent to continue being represented by
OPSEU, but the city entered into a voluntary recognition agreement
covering them with CUPE.
After eight days of hearings, ending March 29, the OLRB came down
with its decision Friday: The ambulance paramedics should be in their
own bargaining unit, and they should have OPSEU as their union.
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For further information:
Mario Posteraro 905-730-2922 (cell)
