B.C. emergency communications talks go to mediation

E-Comm, CUPE held 13 bargaining sessions with little progress

B.C. emergency communications talks go to mediation
The first mediated talks will occur on Sept. 27 at the LRB office, according to CUPE. Google Street View

The B.C. Labour Relations Board (LRB) appointed mediator Trevor Sones to mediate contract talks between E-Comm emergency communications for British Columbia and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Local 873-02 (Emergency Dispatchers of BC), which represents more than 500 emergency dispatchers, call takers and support staff in the province.

The last three-year agreement expired on Dec. 31, 2018. The parties have held 13 bargaining sessions since mid-March, with little progress made on substantive issues, including wages and working conditions, says the union.

The first mediated talks will occur on Sept. 27 at the LRB office, according to CUPE.

CUPE 873-02 members are the first point of contact for most of B.C., daily receiving about 4,100 emergency calls. In recent years, their service has expanded from a select number of police and fire agencies in the Metro and Vancouver area to becoming the first point of contact province-wide for 9-1-1 callers in 25 regional districts, 40 fire departments, 33 police agencies and 99 per cent of B.C.'s 9-1-1 call volumes.

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