Paramedics want equality with police, firefighters

Paramedics turned out in large numbers Monday night to ask town council to give them the same rights to retire at 60 as police and firefighters.
“Paramedics provide a public service often under hazardous, high-stress conditions,” paramedic John Beaton told council. “They respond to emergencies, providing medical services and transporting them to medical facilities.”
Beaton noted the federal government recognized the public safety nature of their work is similar to police and firefighters.
“That’s why we are asking local municipalities to support the changes to the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System that would give us the right to retire at 60 with a full pension,” he said.
In the prepared statement to council, Beaton also stressed the initial emergency care provided by paramedics often is the deciding factor between life and death, temporary or permanent disability, or brief confinement or prolonged hospitalization of a patient.
“Situations the average person can avoid, paramedics have no choice,” Beaton said, emphasizing the challenges a paramedic faces.
“Some of us find ourselves off work with injuries, on long-term disability, or having to take an early retirement without a full pension,” he noted. “That’s not equitable, when police and firefighters can retire with a full pension and I can’t.”
The paramedics asked council to pass a resolution supporting what they believe is their right to retire at 60 with a full pension.
They also requested council send a letter to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario to garner support.
Although the federal government designated paramedics as a public safety occupation in 2005, the same designation police and firefighters receive, paramedics don’t have the same rights that are given to those professions.