NEWS RELEASE
CAW LOCAL 1120
**************************** SAULT STE. MARIE - Paramedics employed by the City of Sault Ste. Marie have 100 percent voted in favor of strike action on Tuesday.
About 38 paramedics, members of the Canadian Auto Workers, have sent their union a strong mandate.
“Sault Ste. Marie paramedics are simply looking for fairness in seeking parity with other first responders,” Steve Olsen, unit chair of the group, said. “We are a division of the fire department in our community and this needs to be recognized with respect to our overall compensation. Our medics work in extremely dangerous conditions every single day in order to offer a very high level of basic and advanced life support service for the citizens of our region.”
CAW Local 1120 President Rob Giovagnoli notes the paramedics have increasingly evolving skills over recent years, and “they utilize these skills in saving lives not only in our city but on the highways, wilderness areas and communities throughout the region.”
Rob also states: “Our Union has great respect for the critical work they do.”
Contract talks are scheduled to resume with a conciliator May 11, 2011.
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