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Tired of long shifts and low pay, ambulance workers in New Brunswick are organizing to improve their working conditions.

In the past six months, workers at 23 ambulance locations representing eight companies have filed for certification with CUPE, joining workers with 11 other ambulance services represented by CUPE in the province.

“A lot of these emergency medical technicians work 24-hour shifts for seven days straight without a break,” said organizer Gordon Black. “When you add up all the hours they work, you’re left with front line emergency health care workers making far less than minimum wage.

“Workers at these private companies are stressed right out. In some cases, they’re on the job earning less than $3 an hour. Yet they’re expected to have a professional skill level, and are constantly updating their training,” he said.