Emergency and security services sector

The Emergency and Security Services (ESS) sector is made up of paramedic emergency communication, fire service, police, correctional, and security workers. Within CUPE, most ESS workers are emergency medical service workers – paramedics, communication officers, administrative, maintenance and support staff.

CUPE is the largest union of paramedic or emergency medical staff in Canada, representing 9,400 workers. Our members include all paramedic staff in British Columbia and Prince Edward Island, most paramedic staff in Ontario, and some EMS staff in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland and Labrador. In Quebec, nearly a thousand paramedics have joined CUPE since 2020. CUPE represents emergency communication staff in Ontario, BC, Quebec, and New Brunswick.

Emergency services sector: Paramedics transport a patient

Sector profile: Emergency and security services

The Emergency and Security Services (ESS) sector is made up of paramedic, emergency communication, fire service, police, correctional, and security workers. Within CUPE, most ESS workers are emergency medical service workers – paramedics, communication officers, administrative, maintenance and support staff.

Seconds Count - 9-1-1 workers

CUPE 8911 launches campaign to fix B.C.’s broken 9-1-1 service

CUPE 8911 members have launched an ambitious public campaign to raise awareness about critical underfunding and staff shortages at E-Comm 9-1-1. The campaign exposes that recent long wait times and unanswered emergency calls—a top news story during the summer heat wave—are symptomatic of an understaffed and underfunded service.

Under pressure: A statistical report on paramedic services in Ontario

CUPE paramedics mark two years without a collective agreement in front of the offices of Premier Legault

Paramedics with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (FTPQ-CUPE 7300) and several other CUPE members demonstrated in front of the Montreal offices of Premier Legault. They marked the two-year anniversary of the date their collective agreement expired.

Workers from a variety of sectors

Sectors of work

CUPE is Canada’s largest union, with over 800,000 members. It is also a very diverse union in terms of the sectors it represents. Our members work in eleven different sectors. Some sectors have over 150,000 members each, such as health care, education, and municipal services, while others have fewer members. However, our union relies on the strength of all its members, regardless of their sector or type of job. Learn more about each of these sectors and the specific issues facing each one.

Bargaining table

Resources for bargaining committees

CUPE offers many tools to support locals during bargaining. They include CUPE National staff representatives, specialist staff support, the Collective Agreement Information System, bargaining-related workshops, regional office support, and materials for bargaining committees.