The Nova Scotia 911 strike has entered its third week as emergency dispatchers continue demanding higher wages and improved staffing levels. Workers say current conditions are contributing to burnout, high turnover and increased pressure on emergency services across the province.
Nova Scotia 911 Strike Continues
Emergency dispatchers represented by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) Local 015 walked off the job on July 17 after contract negotiations with Emergency Medical Care Inc. (EMC) failed to produce an agreement.
The union says negotiations have continued for more than a year without meaningful progress on major issues, including wages, staffing and employee retention.
Workers Call for Better Pay
Dispatchers say they handle life-and-death emergencies every day but believe their salaries do not adequately reflect the demands and responsibilities of their jobs.
Jordan McVeigh, a communications training officer with EMC, said roughly 60 dispatchers answer medical 911 calls for more than one million Nova Scotians.
He said higher wages could help retain experienced employees and strengthen emergency response services across the province.
Workers also argue that some employees leave because they can earn similar wages in less stressful positions.
Staffing Remains a Major Concern
The union says staffing levels reached critically low numbers during 2025.
Under Nova Scotia’s essential-services agreement, EMC must maintain 20 dispatchers while the strike continues.
Union officials argue that this number is actually higher than the average staffing level before the strike began.
According to CUPW, non-paramedic dispatchers perform many of the same duties as paramedic dispatchers but earn approximately $8 less per hour. The union says the pay difference contributes to recruitment and retention problems.
Company Says It Remains Committed to Negotiations
Emergency Medical Care Inc. says it remains committed to reaching a fair agreement through collective bargaining.
The company has stated that it values its employees and will continue negotiating with the union.
Nova Scotia’s Department of Health and Wellness has also encouraged both sides to continue discussions and reach a new contract as quickly as possible.
Outlook for the Nova Scotia 911 Strike
The Nova Scotia 911 strike continues without a clear resolution. Union members say competitive wages, adequate staffing and better retention measures are essential for maintaining reliable emergency medical dispatch services.
Both the union and EMC remain under pressure to reach an agreement that addresses workers’ concerns while ensuring emergency services remain available to people across Nova Scotia.
