Long shifts and no meal breaks have prompted the Region of Waterloo Paramedic Services to threaten strike action if an agreement is not reached when they meet with the Region of Waterloo later this week.

Paramedics say understaffing keeps them on the job 16 hours at a time when shifts are supposed to be 12 hours long. On top of that, they are sometimes so busy they don't have time to sit down and take the two meal breaks mandated in their collective agreements, said Chris Sutton, the representative for CUPE 5191.

Negotiate a settlement

Sutton told CBC KW he plans to stay at the negotiating table until the issue is resolved with the Region of Waterloo on Thursday.

"We are going in to negotiate a settlement with some time lines to allow the region to be able to get in the necessary resource," said Sutton.

"We know that the region, [and] the members are committed to the service they provide and they want Waterloo Region paramedics to be the best bar none."

The paramedics have given the Canadian Union of Public Employees local 5191 a 98 per cent strike mandate.

Stephen Van Valkenburg, the chief of paramedic services with Region of Waterloo issued a statement saying the region remains optimistic both sides can reach a negotiated settlement.

"Operational and staffing issues are being addressed in the recently Council-approved Master Plan for Paramedic Services, while other matters are being addressed directly at the negotiating table," said Van Valkenburg.

"The Region will continue to work with our CUPE Local towards a responsible collective agreement the meets both the needs of our paramedics and the needs of our community."

