A date has been set for unionized paramedics, working for Lambton County's emergency medical services, to discuss a new contract.
SEIU Healthcare union workers attend county council to support their bargaining team. (Submitted photo.)
Nearly 150 Service Employees International Union [SEIU] Healthcare workers voted in favour of a strike mandate earlier this week after months of bargaining and conciliation.
Some were at county council's meeting in Wyoming Wednesday morning.
Spokesperson Corey Johnson said they wanted to show support for their bargaining team.
"The good news is there is a new bargaining date on November 15, so we're very hopeful that when we go back to the table some of the disputes that we have can be resolved," said Johnson.
One of the key outstanding issues is the bridging of benefits.
"Currently in the system, if someone were to take an early retirement, which happens a lot with paramedics because of the nature of the job -- they lose their benefits right after that," he said. "So, what we're really pushing for is to get the bridging of benefits to age 65, so that these workers are taken care of after they retire."
The last contract between the county and its paramedics expired March 31.