N.S. emergency medical dispatchers could go on strike this Friday, union says

A union for Nova Scotia emergency dispatchers issued a strike notice on Tuesday.

More than 60 emergency medical dispatchers could go on strike this Friday if they do not reach an agreement with their employer, according to their union.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) Local 015 says it issued a strike notice to Emergency Medical Care Inc. (EMC) on Tuesday.

If the labour action goes forward, 911 emergency dispatch services will still be provided due to an essential service agreement imposed by the Nova Scotia Labour Board, according to the union.

“One of the biggest issues this round of bargaining is chronic understaffing,” said Craig Power, lead negotiator for the medical dispatchers, in a news release. “The ESA (essential service agreement) requires higher staffing levels during a strike than EMC provides on a typical weekday. It speaks to the seriousness of the staffing problems when a labour dispute sees more members on the job instead of fewer.

“Something has to give.”

The union says its members responded to more than 212,000 emergency and non-emergency calls in 2025.

“Our members are there for Nova Scotians on what is often the worst day of their lives,” said Power. “They make split-second decisions that can mean the difference between life and death, yet they are overworked, underpaid compared to their counterparts elsewhere, and are forced to work in a system that is dangerously understaffed.”

The union and the employer have been engaged in bargaining over wages, staffing and working conditions since June 2025.

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