Dear Members,

I’m pleased to share that our Tentative Collective Agreement has been ratified by the membership, with a voter turnout of 53% and over 80% voting in favour. The official results can be found HERE.

Thank you to every member who took the time to participate in the vote. Your engagement in this process matters, and I appreciate the trust you have placed in this agreement and in the work of your bargaining team.

I also want to thank the many members who attended information sessions, asked thoughtful questions, and challenged us to explain the details of the agreement and the bargaining process. That engagement is a healthy part of a strong union. At the same time, I recognize that for some members this agreement did not meet all of your expectations or personal priorities. While no agreement can address every issue in a single round of bargaining, our commitment remains the same: continuing to push forward improvements in compensation, benefits, working conditions, and supports for all members.

In the coming weeks, the union executive and negotiating team will begin the work of implementing the new collective agreement. This includes ensuring retroactive payments are processed as quickly as possible and working through the steps required to put the new language and provisions into place. We will share more details as that work progresses.

You will also notice some changes online as we streamline and organize the large amount of bargaining, strike, and ratification information that has been shared over the past several months. The [email protected] email will remain active for member questions, and we will create a single centralized post for collective agreement questions moving forward. Older posts will remain available for reference, but comments will be closed so we can keep information and answers organized in one place.

I would also like to recognize the incredible work of the union executive, board, and our negotiating team. Bargaining is demanding work that requires countless hours away from families and communities. I’m deeply proud of the effort, professionalism, and dedication shown throughout this process. The goal has always been to achieve the strongest and fairest agreement possible for our members.

Finally, I want to thank you — the membership. Over the past months and years, we have asked a great deal from you. You continue to do difficult and demanding work in challenging conditions, often without the recognition you deserve. During this round of bargaining, we asked you to stand together, stay unified, and trust the process. When the time came, you showed that strength and solidarity.

For that, I am sincerely grateful.

Thank you again for your engagement and support. I look forward to continuing to communicate with you as we move ahead with implementing this new agreement.

In solidarity,

Jason Jackson
President
Ambulance Paramedics of BC
CUPE Local 873

JJ/sd/MoveUp

VANCOUVER, BC – March 14, 2026 – Paramedics, dispatchers, and call-takers with the Ambulance Paramedics of BC (CUPE Local 873) have ratified a new collective agreement, voting over 80% in favour.

The agreement follows months of negotiations between the union and the provincial government and represents a step forward in improving compensation, benefits, working conditions, and support systems for the more than 6,000 frontline paramedics and emergency medical dispatch staff who deliver emergency medical care across British Columbia.

“Paramedics and dispatchers show up for British Columbians every day, often during the most difficult moments in people’s lives,” said Jason Jackson, President of the Ambulance Paramedics of BC. “This agreement reflects the strength of our membership and the support we continue to see from the public for the critical work paramedics and dispatchers do in communities across the province.”

The union says implementation of the agreement will begin immediately, including processing retroactive payments and putting new provisions into place.

Paramedics have received strong public support throughout the bargaining process, with many British Columbians voicing appreciation for the vital role paramedics and dispatchers play in the healthcare system and in emergency response across urban, rural, and remote communities.

For more information, please contact us at [email protected] or visit www.apbc.ca.

 

Ambulance Paramedics & Emergency Dispatchers of BC
CUPE Local 873

For Immediate Release

BC PARAMEDICS UNION REACHES AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE IN CONTRACT TALKS

VANCOUVER, BC – February 20, 2026 – The Ambulance Paramedics of BC – CUPE 873 has reached an Agreement in Principle with BC Emergency Health Services, the Health Employers Association of BC, and the Provincial Government following extensive negotiations.

“This is where we wanted to be,” says APBC President Jason Jackson. “Our members showed overwhelming unity with a 97 percent strike vote, and that solidarity directly helped bring all parties together to reach a deal.”

From February 2^nd to 16^th, the union conducted a strike vote after negotiations stalled prior to Christmas and saw limited progress in January. Nearly 80 percent of paramedics and dispatchers participated, delivering one of the strongest mandates in the union’s history.

Throughout bargaining, APBC emphasized the need for meaningful improvements to mental health and wellness supports, benefits, wages, and training.

“Our members made it clear how dedicated they are to their profession and how important a stable ambulance service is for our members and our patients,” Jackson said. “We needed improvements that help us better care for the public and ensure proper support when our members are injured or struggling. These negotiations were difficult, but the process worked. This is an agreement our members can be proud of that will ensure improved service delivery and a more stable ambulance service for British Columbians.”

Next steps include a province-wide tour, both in person and online, where details of the agreement will be presented to more than 6,000 paramedics and dispatchers and questions answered ahead of a ratification vote.

For media inquiries, email us at [email protected].

Ambulance Paramedics & Emergency Dispatchers of BC
CUPE Local 873

AMBULANCE PARAMEDICS & EMERGENCY DISPATCHERS OF BC – CUPE LOCAL 873 TO PROVIDE UPDATE FOLLOWING 97% STRIKE VOTE

VANCOUVER, BC – February 18, 2026 — More than 6,000 members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action, sending a clear message that frontline paramedics and dispatchers are prepared to act to improve paramedic services and supports systems that are much needed.

APBC Communications Director Ian Tait will be available to media to provide details on the strike vote results, an update on negotiations, and possible next steps.

WHAT:           Announcement of strike vote results and update on negotiations

WHEN:           Thursday, February 19 – 12:00 Noon

WHERE:        Hilton Vancouver Airport – 5911 Minoru Blvd, Richmond BC, V6X 4C7

WHO:             APBC Communications Director

 

For media inquiries, please contact: [email protected]

 

Ambulance Paramedics & Emergency Dispatchers of BC

CUPE Local 873

The Ambulance Paramedics of British Columbia (APBC), which represents about 6,000 paramedics and dispatchers, will soon be headed to a strike vote, citing negotiations for a new collective agreement reaching an impasse.

APBC president Jason Jackson said in a press release that the union met with its employer last week in an effort to advance negotiations and avoid any disruption to services. However, no positive progress was made in those negotiations.

The APBC added that the current agreement does not meet the needs to support members and their families or protect their mental health and safety.

“Not only does the government’s offer fail to address the serious challenges we face, but it also doesn’t even live up to what other public sector workers have already been guaranteed,” Jackson said. “Our members have stepped up time and time again to ensure patients across the province get the urgent care they need, but they are being stretched to their breaking point. It’s time for the BC government to recognize the desperate situation we’re in and work with us to find solutions.”