THUNDER BAY – The union representing local paramedics says a new tentative agreement with the City of Thunder Bay will help lessen the gap in compensation between his members and other first responders.
Rob Moquin, unit chair of Unifor Local 39-11, said he was confident the 108 paramedics represented by the union would approve the agreement at a meeting scheduled for Sunday night.
While he could not share details of the agreement ahead of that vote, he said it would go a long way toward addressing issues including compensation, benefits, and conditions of work.
“This contract will show that the City does value paramedics,” he said. “We’ve talked about lessening the gap between [paramedics and] other first responders. In this contract, we’re now lessening the gap… and showing paramedics deserve the respect, as well as compensation and benefits.”
Moquin also expressed satisfaction with the four-year term of the contract, which he said would help bring “labour peace” and predictability.
The agreement retroactively covers the past year, in which paramedics have been without a contract (the union agreed to a delay due to the pandemic), though Moquin could not yet say if all provisions would apply retroactively.
In a statement, city manager Norm Gale said the agreement, reached only hours before a strike deadline Saturday, was good news for the city.
“We are extremely pleased to reach a tentative [agreement], and prevent any disruption in the delivery of paramedic service to the residents of Thunder Bay and surrounding area,” said Norm Gale, City Manager. “It’s a credit to the bargaining teams, and the excellent work done on both sides.”
Moquin said it had been a marathon bargaining process, with negotiations beginning in December of 2020 and running nearly up to the wire Saturday. While the process is “never easy,” he believes both parties left the table relatively satisfied.
“I think the corporation can be happy with this settlement as well as our members,” he said. “I think we both walk away feeling our concerns were heard, and they’ve put forth a package we feel is good for our members.”
The agreement, if approved, will apply to Superior North EMS paramedics working in the municipality of Thunder Bay. Paramedics working elsewhere throughout the Thunder Bay District are represented by a separate bargaining unit.
