The union representing 911 emergency call centre staff wishes to express its concern and compassion for the resident and his injured spouse who had to wait 25 minutes before having their call answered at the emergency call centre.
“The City of Montreal and the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) need to respond to the legitimate concerns of residents. They need to ensure they are hiring enough staff and offering respectful and competitive working conditions to reduce high rates of staff turnover in this key service for residents,” said Eliane Scofield, president of CUPE 429.
The white-collar workers who work as emergency communications officers at the 911 emergency call centre are on duty day and night to provide this essential service to residents. They do it with dedication, often needing to work extra hours to respond to high demand, and to the detriment of their personal work-life balance.
“CUPE 429 is proud of its members, but pride cannot replace decent working conditions. The following issues must be resolved: difficulties with staff retention, mandatory overtime causing staff exhaustion, strained labour relations, constant pressures on mental health, and serious wage gaps compared to other emergency centres,” added the union representative.
It’s important to remember that these white-collar workers are the first voice that residents hear when they are going through the most difficult moments of their lives, and they are the first link in a chain of people who save lives every day. This incident underscores the fact that when you invest in the front-line staff who provide municipal services in the City of Montreal, it’s a direct investment in the health and well-being of residents.
