Underpaid and overworked.
That was the message from members of the Nova Scotia Paramedics Union to the provincial government yesterday during a Standing Committee on Health session at the legislature.
Business Manager and CEO of the union Kevin MacMullin says paramedics are struggling due to a lack of staff and stresses of the job.
“And we constantly lose paramedics due to wages. We aren’t able to recruit any paramedics because our wages are the lowest here in Nova Scotia,” says MacMullin.
He says the province lost 13 paramedics to other areas just last month.
The union wants the province to grant them a raise, much like continuing care assistants received earlier this year.
“We need the government to step up to the plate, and pay the money. By doing that, we may be able to get back some people we’ve lost in the last year or two.”
MacMullin says they’d like to speak directly to Premier Tim Houston and the Health Minister in the near future.
Union representatives will appear before the Standing Committee on Health today, May 17. Tune in from 1 to 3pm or see the recording later!https://t.co/zrXVqYtPcc
— IUOE Local 727 (@IUOEnsparamedic) May 17, 2022
