News Releases    

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 29, 2003

Ambulance dispatchers hold information picket

London – Ambulance dispatchers will hold an information picket outside the London Central Ambulance Communications Centre to protest chronic short-staffing at the centre.

Date: Wednesday, April 30
Time: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Place: 205 York Street

“We have a major recruitment and retention problem at the provincial ambulance dispatch centres, including London’s,” said Dave Potts, unit steward, Local 147 of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU).

The 12 provincial ambulance dispatch centres have a high staff turnover rate. The Ministry of Health has admitted to the union that only 30 per cent of new hires are staying.

A government-commissioned report said staff are leaving for better jobs at other emergency services because of high workload and stress and relatively low wages. The report recommended adding more staff positions and increasing wages to “the current market level”.

The Ministry has increased the staff complement but has not closed the wage gap with other emergency services where dispatchers can earn $10,000 - $20,000 more.

We have to make life and death decisions every day,” said Potts. “We have to be right every time, or someone dies. Because of the current crisis, people are dying.”

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For more information, contact:

Dave Potts, (519) 494-7463
Steve Hunt, (519) 476-8128