Niagara’s paramedics have voted in favour of strike action.
CUPE 911, which represents Niagara’s paramedics, dispatchers and occupational therapists, says 98 per cent of its members voted to strike if a deal can’t be reached with the Region.
81 per cent of the 470 workers voted yesterday.
CUPE Local 911 President David Barnett says improvements are needed to their contract, including mental health benefits for part-time paramedics, who are not currently entitled to coverage.
He says that’s not fair given most part-time employees work 36 hours a week, and see tragic situations most days.
He also says paramedics want benefit, and income parity with police and firefighters, as well as more staff members.
“2025 was a big breaking point for our service. It was the year of the extent of ‘downstaffing’ of ambulance. It puts severe stress on our system and workers who pick up the slack. The easiest way to define a ‘downstaff’ is if I finish my shift at 6:30 in the morning, and I go to hand the keys to my relief and there is no one there, there is nobody to staff that ambulance. Just because you have an ambulance in your city, or down the street from you, it does not mean you have a paramedic in that ambulance. That is not the norm, but it has been in 2025, and continues to be in 2026, because of our lack of recruitment, retention, and respect when it comes to our benefits and paid package.”
Barnett says the last thing paramedics and dispatchers want to do is strike, saying they choose a career to help others.
He says the labour board would decide how many paramedics can go on strike, and they are months away from any kind of work action.
Barnett says in the event of a strike, they are calling for most resources to be funneled to the most serious situations, however less serious calls may experience a longer response time.
Contract negotiations between Niagara Region and the union are underway with three bargaining dates scheduled in the coming weeks.
A petition has been created online calling for changes to their contracts.
Story credit: Bonnie Heslop
Image credit: CUPE 911
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