CHARLOTTETOWN — The majority of the Island’s Paramedics chose the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) to represent them on PEI.
A vote was held Monday and Tuesday for all Paramedics to determine which union would be going to the bargaining table on their behalf.
“We are very pleased with the result of the vote”, said Tracy Fall, President of CUPE Local 3324, which represents paramedics.
“Following the reorganization of the ambulance services, Paramedics had to decide between three unions: CUPE, IUOE and UPSE. During the last two weeks, we met almost every Paramedic on the Island and we now know their concerns,” continues Fall.
“We are very pleased they gave us a vote of confidence. Now, we have to sit down with our new employer, Island EMS, and negotiate a good Collective Agreement for all our members. Paramedics perform a very essential and important service for Islanders and they deserve to be recognized for the work they do”, said Fall.
“We also have to reorganize our Union Local into a provincial Local with representatives from each region”, concluded Fall.
67 paramedics voted over the last two (2) days and 36 voted for CUPE, 20 voted for IUOE and 11 voted for UPSE. CUPE already represents all paramedics in New Brunswick and will now represent all paramedics on the Island.
CUPE represents more than 2300 members on the Prince Edward Island, which work in the hospitals, schools, municipalities and university.
For more Information:
Jacques Sirois, CUPE Representative - 1-506-863-5592