The union that represents paramedics at the Essex Windsor Emergency Medical Service expects a ruling from the Ontario Labour Relations Board within the next two or three weeks.
That ruling will define how paramedics will carry out their strike, if it comes to that.
CUPE Local 2974 President James Jovanovic says the ruling on the Essential Ambulance Services Agreement will define how much service will be reduced during a strike action. Typically, in Ontario, that number is up to 40 per cent.
Once the union has the ruling, it can apply for a No Board report and legally strike 17 days after filing its submission.
The labour dispute, which has been dragging on for months now, is not just over wages. Jovanovic said the most pressing issues are staffing levels and burnout prevention, but he says the County of Essex hasn't sent the union an offer that addresses those systemic problems. The union has alleged the service is short 50 paramedics.
Jovanovic feels a 40 per cent reduction in service will likely be felt by residents in the region.
"Because we are already experiencing a staffing crisis, as acknowledged by the County of Essex, with frequent down-staffing of ambulances, not enough paramedics to fill them, we feel any reduction will have an impact," he said.
Meanwhile, the County of Essex issued a statement after Monday's hearing.
"The County's position throughout this process has been guided by public safety and the need to maintain reliable emergency services for residents of the County of Essex, the City of Windsor, and Pelee Island. As the matter remains before the Board, and as the County respects the bargaining process, it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time."
Paramedics voted 100 per cent in favour of strike action to back their demands back in February, that the county hire more paramedics and address the mental toll the job takes on its employees. Despite the outcome of the vote, Jovanovic said paramedics would rather not strike.
"We certainly remain hopeful [of a collective agreement]. There's no paramedic in the province of Ontario who wants to strike," he said. "As much as we want to avoid a strike, we also feel there's an obligation to stand up and highlight these systemic deficiencies."
