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New talks planned in Nova Scotia paramedics dispute

June 27, 2013, Halifax – The company that provides paramedic services in Nova Scotia says it will soon meet with the union representing paramedics to try and reach a settlement in contract negotiations.

Stacey Brown of Emergency Medical Care Inc. says it is waiting to hear from Local 727 of the International Union of Operating Engineers on the final logistics of a meeting.

Last week, union members voted 73 per cent against a deal with Emergency Medical Care that would have given the province's 800 paramedics a defined benefits pension plan, a key union demand.

At information pickets this week, union members say they also want better wages, with some saying they are looking for a 15 per cent pay hike over three years rather than the 11.1 per cent over almost five years that was offered in the tentative agreement.

The paramedics won't be able to go on strike or be in a legal lockout position until July 5.