RICHMOND—The Ambulance Paramedics and Emergency Dispatchers of BC, represented by CUPE 873, have ratified a new three-year collective agreement with the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC) that addresses foundational changes to wages, benefits, and staffing models across the province.
The agreement, reached on January 6, addresses many of the union’s core concerns, said CUPE 873 President Troy Clifford.
“This was a collaborative agreement. The provincial government, their bargaining agent HEABC, BC Emergency Health Services senior leadership, and the Health Minister’s office all came together to get this done,” said Clifford.
“The fact that we needed to invest in paramedic services, prehospital care, and public safety was obvious. We’re glad that we could sit at the table together and put our members and patients first.”
While happy to have reached a new collective agreement, added Clifford, the union will continue its advocacy work to address ongoing urgent issues.
“We still have a long way to go in providing improved mental health and wellness support to our members, and we want to advocate for our profession moving forward in many different ways,” he said, adding that the union will also continue its fight on behalf of patients.
“We want a fully functioning ambulance service in every community of this province where every citizen, no matter where they live, gets assistance in a timely manner,” he said.
“We are committed to that, no matter what, and this agreement will lay a good foundation for us to build on.”
The APBC represents nearly 5,000 ambulance paramedics, emergency dispatchers, and call-takers across BC. They had been without a contract since April last year.
