Not only are contracted paramedics sticking around in Chatham-Kent, they'll stay for another five years.
Chatham-Kent Council will not pursue a blended Fire/EMS service model, opting to keep their relationship with third-party company Medavie intact. CK Fire and Emergency Services officials had recommended a blended service to cut costs going forward.
Councillors have also voted to extend the municipality's contract with Medavie through to 2021. Those negotiations will begin soon.
"It's a huge relief," says union steward and CK paramedic Mike Stinson. "We had people looking at moving away without the job security that we have. It's a huge relief."
Administration says the blended model would have saved over $1.3M in the municipal budget. Instead, Chatham-Kent will pursue a five-year deal with the EMS service company. Costs are expected to increase from $10, 363, 416 in 2017 to $11,391,835 through to 2021.
Fire Chief Ken Stuebing says they'll require added resources to sustain this new agreement.
"We're not personally invested in one model or the other, even though some people have cast us that way. In the end our job is to make a recommendation and follow that direction" says Stuebing.
Paramedics and their supporters filled the seats in Chatham-Kent Council Chambers for the vote Monday night. Those who couldn't fit into the gallery watched the action on a screen in an adjacent room. Many of them are paramedics in Chatham-Kent, but others came from the Toronto and Hamilton area as well.
"It's an amazing show of solidarity," says CUPE Ambulance Committee of Ontario Member Corey Nageleisen. "This is one thing our community has struggled with over the years: finding that one voice and one group to show up and stand together."
Reps fom CUPE, SIEU, OPSEU and UNIFOR were all present at Monday's meeting.
Paramedics wouldn't speculate if this decision could influence similar talks going on at the provincial level. While no concrete plans have been made, the Ontario Government has been speaking with stakeholders about potentially allowing qualified firefighters to practice some paramedic skills on the job.
