911 call-takers have voted for strike action, B.C. union says

Members of the Emergency Communications Professionals of B.C. have voted 95 per cent in favour of strike action, the union announced Thursday.

CUPE 8911 said the results underscore the union’s concerns around staffing and workload within E-Comm, the largest 911 services provider in the province.

“Our members are under increasing pressure, and they need an agreement that supports them and stabilizes the system,” union president Donald Grant said in a statement.

CUPE 8911 represents hundreds of 911 call-takers, dispatchers, IT staff and others employed by E-Comm.

Prior to this week’s vote, the union and employer spent months negotiating without reaching a deal.

It’s unclear when the union could launch a potential strike. In a news release, CUPE 8911 said the two parties are “currently negotiating an essential services order,” and that workers would be in a legal position to strike once that process is finished.

Apart from staffing issues, the union said it is seeking higher wages that reflect “the responsibility and complexity of the job,” as well as better health and wellness supports that it argues will help attract and retain workers in a high-stress environment.

“This is what it takes to have a strong, sustainable system,” said Grant. “Investing in workers is investing in public safety and a system people can rely on in critical moments.”