For Immediate Release
VANCOUVER, BC – The Emergency Communications Professionals of BC, represented by CUPE 8911, will hold a strike vote early next month in pursuit of practical solutions to improve the resiliency, stability, and reliability of British Columbia’s 9-1-1 system.
After months of negotiations, the union says it has not been able to reach a new contract with the employer, despite mounting operational challenges that must be addressed in this round of bargaining.
“Emergency communications professionals are the first point of contact for every emergency,” says CUPE 8911 President Don Grant. “Behind every call is a highly trained emergency communications professional working under intense pressure to connect people with help in some of the worst moments of their lives. But right now, our 9-1-1 system is at a critical point, and so are the people behind it.”
Frontline staff are reporting high rates of burnout, occupational stress injuries, and excessive hours driven by staff shortages. These shortages are often so severe that, for extended periods of time, staff are unable to take scheduled breaks or even step away to use the washroom.
The impact is also being felt by the public. Last year, more than 60,000 calls to 9-1-1 exceeded the service standard of being answered within five seconds. On Christmas night, a police emergency call waited more than four and a half minutes for help.
“9-1-1 saves lives, and British Columbians need to have confidence that help will be there when they call,” said Grant. “That means investing in the people who make the system work, with fair wages that reflect the responsibility and complexity of the work, adequate staffing, and meaningful health and wellness supports that keep experienced professionals on the job.”
The strike vote will open on May 13, and voting will take place electronically over a 24-hour period.
“Strike action is always a last resort, but the system only works when the people behind it are supported. We need E-Comm 9-1-1 and the Board of Directors to recognize the critical situation we’re in and prioritize the funding needed to support frontline workers so we can strengthen and improve 9-1-1 and emergency communications services,” added Grant.
About Emergency Communications Professionals of British Columbia:
CUPE 8911, the Emergency Communications Professionals of BC, represents more than seven hundred 9-1-1 operators, call takers, dispatchers, IT, and support professionals employed by E-Comm. With worksites in Vancouver, Burnaby, and Saanich, members provide 99% of the initial 9-1-1 call answer for the province, and answer, triage, dispatch and update emergency calls for 33 police agencies and 40 fire departments across the province.
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