B.C. 911 call taker union to vote on strike

The province’s 911 call takers are preparing to vote in the coming weeks on whether to strike.

After months of talks, the union representing Emergency Communications Professionals of BC says it still hasn’t reached a deal for a new contract with the employer.

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President of CUPE 8911, Don Grant, says members are at a breaking point.

“Chronic staffing shortages, increasing call volumes, and the intensity of work are just driving huge amounts of burnout and workplace stress. And a strike vote reflects the building urgency after months of negotiations that are geared towards stabilizing a system that’s under growing strain,” Grant told 1130 News Radio.

The job can be stressful under the best conditions, he says, as union members handle over 2 million calls per year.

“They deal with everything from a crime in progress, to a bank robbery, to a house on fire. Those are very critical situations where every second counts. And what we’re seeing is staffing situations where people can have to go hours and hours without even the ability to go to the bathroom. And that’s caused by just not having enough staff there to meet the demands.”

As the Lower Mainland prepares to host visitors for the FIFA World Cup games in Vancouver, Grant says the employer, E-Comm 911, has advised it could implement mandatory overtime during that time.

The union says the strain resulted in over 60,000 911 calls exceeding the service standard of receiving an answer within five seconds in 2025.

“On Christmas night, a police emergency call waited more than four and a half minutes for help.”

Grant says the union is negotiating for compensation that “reflects the seriousness and complexity of the roles” and a contract that provides health and wellness supports for operators on the frontline.

“This bargaining round is really about putting common sense solutions in place that will increase staffing levels, make things better for British Columbians all across the province.”

E-Comm call takers are considered an essential service, mandated by the Labour Board, so any job action — if approved — would be limited.

Members are set to vote on May 13.

1130 NewsRadio has reached out to the B.C. Ministry of Health and E-Comm 911 for comment.