Special Mediator Steps In as 911 Strike Looms
Labour minister appoints Vince Ready to negotiate with emergency communications workers before June 8 walkout.
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The B.C. government has brought in a special mediator to try to resolve a dispute between 911 emergency communications workers and their employer before a strike takes effect Sunday.
Vince Ready, a seasoned labour mediator, was appointed Saturday by Labour Minister Jennifer Whiteside. He will work with CUPE Local 8911 — which represents over 700 emergency communications professionals — and Emergency Communications for B.C. to reach a deal over the next 10 days.
The union issued a 72-hour strike notice Friday after talks broke down. If no settlement is reached, Ready will issue binding recommendations on all outstanding issues.
"I encourage both parties to work together with the special mediator, with urgency and determination, to reach a fair and timely agreement," Whiteside said in a statement.
The sticking points are staffing levels, workload, and the long-term sustainability of B.C.'s emergency communications system. Workers are seeking fair wages reflecting the job's responsibility, more recruitment and staffing support, and better health and wellness programs.
CUPE 8911 President Donald Grant welcomed the appointment. "We want to thank the government for recognizing the urgency of this situation and its assistance in appointing the special mediator, and we are ready to move forward with this process."
With Toronto and Vancouver hosting World Cup matches starting June 12 and 13, a 911 disruption would pose significant risk to the tournament and everyday emergency response across B.C. The strike notice is set to take effect June 8 at 3:29 p.m.