An agreement has been reached to end a strike by paramedics in Chatham-Kent.
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Healthcare represents the paramedics and Manager of Hospitals Laurie Chapman told CK News Today both sides have agreed to end the five week strike and go to arbitration starting August 28, 2023.
On Friday, Medavie Health Services, the employer, and the SEIU said CK paramedics will resume all regular clinical operations on Sunday.
In April, paramedics voted 97 per cent in favour of strike action after working without a contract since December 2022.
Chapman said wages, long term disability premiums, and scheduling for part time paramedics are the sticky issues.
Chapman said each full time member currently pays about $6,000 a year for long term disability premiums and the union wants Medavie Health to assume that responsibility.
She also said part time paramedics often work for several different services to earn a full time paycheck and the union is seeking more flexibility in the scheduling to allow them to have a life and not be on-call all the time.
Chapman said all sides feel better today than they did a few weeks ago.
