VANCOUVER, BC — Emergency communications professionals represented by CUPE 8911 have voted 95 per cent in favour of strike action, underscoring growing concerns about staffing, workload, and long-term sustainability of the 9-1-1 system.
Emergency communications professionals are highly trained professionals who are there in some of the most stressful and uncertain moments people experience. They answer 99 per cent of initial 9-1-1 calls in British Columbia and provide dispatch services for police and fire agencies across the province, helping connect people to the support they need when it matters most.
“This vote reflects the reality frontline staff are facing every day,” said Donald Grant, President of CUPE 8911. “Our members are under increasing pressure, and they need an agreement that supports them and stabilizes the system.”
Workers are seeking an agreement that includes fair wages reflecting the responsibility and complexity of the job, safe staffing levels, and improved health and wellness supports, all essential to recruiting and retaining skilled professionals and ensuring the 9-1-1 system can respond effectively during periods of heightened demand and major emergencies.
“This is what it takes to have a strong, sustainable system,” said Grant. “Investing in workers is investing in public safety and a system people can rely on in critical moments.”
CUPE 8911 emphasized that strike action is always a last resort. The parties are currently negotiating an essential services order, and once that process is complete, workers will be in a legal strike position.
“The results of this vote make it clear that workers need more support,” said Grant. “That support is critical to maintaining a stable, reliable 9-1-1 system. With negotiations resuming Friday, we’re ready to move forward and reach a deal, but we need to see that same commitment from the employer.”
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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