A union that represents health and emergency service dispatchers says that without additional financial means, a catastrophic breakdown of service could break out in call centers in Quebec.
The president of the Federation of Prehospital Employees of Quebec (FPHQ), Daniel Chouinard, adds that the sector is particularly grappling with a staff shortage that has become unsustainable.
He claims that there are gaps in emergency call centers, including the 911 central, which increases response times to distress calls requiring the deployment of ambulance services.
He adds that the lack of personnel causes work weeks of over 70 hours for some workers and that the hourly wage of $21.37 is too low. Employees therefore quit their jobs because of the working conditions.
Daniel Chouinard points out that the work of emergency dispatchers requires knowledge and expertise in health care as well as the ability to dissect the scenes of incidents remotely in order to be able to communicate the correct instructions to people in distress.
Mr. Chouinard asks the Government of Quebec to quickly sign a collective agreement that would ensure stability in the day-to-day work of dispatchers, otherwise service failures could occur.
The collective agreement for these workers expired nine months ago.
The FPHQ brings together nearly 2,500 workers, including paramedics and support and office staff.