Vancouver (Rajeev Sharma): The union representing British Columbia’s ambulance paramedics and emergency dispatchers has announced it will hold a strike vote early next month after negotiations with the provincial government over a new collective agreement reached an impasse.
Ambulance Paramedics of B.C. (APBC) said in a news release on Tuesday evening that the electronic strike vote will be conducted over a two-week period beginning February 2. The announcement follows contract talks last week that the union described as yielding “no positive progress.”
APBC president Jason Jackson said the government’s current offer fails to address the ongoing challenges faced by paramedics and dispatchers and falls short of commitments already made to other public sector workers.
“Not only does the government’s offer fail to address the serious challenges we face, but it also doesn’t even live up to what other public sector workers have already been guaranteed,” Jackson said. He added that paramedics have consistently stepped up to meet patient needs across the province but are now being pushed to their limits.
The union said the provincial ambulance service continues to operate under significant staffing pressures, with persistent service gaps in rural, remote and Indigenous communities. It is urging the government to correct staffing levels and restore stability by engaging meaningfully at the bargaining table.
“A strike is always a last resort, but the status quo of staffing shortages, burnout, and service disruptions isn’t an option either,” Jackson said, stressing that members take their public safety responsibilities seriously.
According to APBC, once an essential services order is finalized, the union will be in a legal strike position if members vote in favour of job action. The union represents more than 6,000 ambulance paramedics and emergency dispatchers across British Columbia.
