Paramedic Pensions: NRA 60 campaign
OMERS Sponsors Corporation fails to recognize paramedics’ right to
fair pensions
July 7, 2008
Paramedics, firefighters and police officers all respond
with equal urgency when a citizen calls 911. But when it comes to
pensions, some emergency respondents still appear to be ‘more equal than
others’.
Paramedics belong to a designated Public Safety
Occupation (PSO) which is similar to the status of firefighters and
police officers. But, despite a valiant effort to gain recognition,
paramedics still do not have the same pension rights as other emergency
personnel in PSO occupations.
Paramedics simply want the right to negotiate pension
provisions similar to those enjoyed by police and firefighters,
including the right to a normal retirement age of 60 (NRA 60).
In a vote last week the OMERS Sponsors Corporation did
not even allow the matter to go to mediation-arbitration. The vote on
med-arb was deadlocked, with the employer side unanimously voting
against allowing this to move forward. One extra vote in favour would
have moved the matter to med-arb.
Last month, a motion to allow the paramedics the right
to negotiate NRA 60 was also deadlocked at the OMERS Sponsors’
Corporation. The motion would have needed two-thirds vote to pass.
Paramedics from four unions, OPSEU, CUPE, SEIU and CAW,
have been campaigning jointly for the right to negotiate NRA 60. OPSEU
Ambulance Division Chair Jamie Ramage says the four unions will continue
to pursue fair pensions for Ontario’s 5,400 paramedics.
