Long shifts and no meal breaks prompt EMS workers to vote for strike

Long shifts and no meal breaks haveprompted the Region of Waterloo Paramedic Services to threaten strike action if an agreement is not reached when they meet with the Region of Waterloo later this week.

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Paramedics sayunderstaffingkeepsthem on the job 16 hours at a time whenshifts aresupposed to be12 hours long. On top of that, they are sometimes sobusy theydon't have time to sit down and takethe two meal breaks mandated in theircollective agreements, saidChris Sutton, the representative forCUPE5191.

Negotiate a settlement

Sutton told CBC KWhe plans to stay at the negotiating table until the issue is resolved with the Region of Waterlooon Thursday.

"We are goingin to negotiate a settlement with some time lines to allow the region to be able to get in the necessary resource," said Sutton.

"We know that the region, [and] the members are committed to the service they provide and they want Waterloo Region paramedics to be the best bar none."

The paramedics havegiven the Canadian Union of Public Employees local 5191 a 98 per cent strike mandate.

Stephen Van Valkenburg, the chiefof paramedic services withRegion of Waterloo issued a statement sayingthe region remains optimistic both sidescan reach a negotiated settlement.

"Operational and staffing issues are being addressed in the recently Council-approved Master Plan for Paramedic Services, while other matters are being addressed directly at the negotiating table," said Van Valkenburg.

"The Region will continue to work with our CUPE Local towards a responsible collective agreement the meets both the needs of our paramedics and the needs of our community."