The union representing 911 dispatchers and call takers says workers will hold a strike vote in mid-May.
The Emergency Communications Professionals of B.C., which is represented by CUPE 8911, says the strike vote will open May 13 and will take place electronically over a 24-hour period, a news release from the union said on Monday (April 27).
The union represents more than 700 operators, call takers, dispatchers, IT and support professionals employed by E-Comm.
There are worksites in Vancouver, Burnaby and Saanich and workers provide 99 per cent of the initial 911 call answer for the province. They also answer, triage, dispatch and update emergency calls for 33 police agencies and 40 fire departments across the province.
The union said it has been unable to reach a new contract with the employer, E-Comm 9-1-1, after months of negotiations. The release adds there are mounting operational challenges that must be addressed this round of bargaining.
CUPE 8911 president Don Grant said strike action is “always the last resort, but the system only works when the people behind it are supported.”
“We need E-Comm 9-1-1 and the Board of Directors to recognize the critical situation we’re in and prioritize the funding needed to support frontline workers so we can strengthen and improve 9-1-1 and emergency communications services.”
The release says that staff are reporting high rates of burnout, occupational stress injuries and excessive hours driven by staff shortages.
“These shortages are often so severe that, for extended periods of time, staff are unable to take scheduled breaks or even step away to use the washroom,” the release says.
It adds that the impact is “also being felt by the public.” In 2025, there were more than 60,000 calls to 911 that exceeded the service standard of being answered within five seconds. There was reportedly one call on Christmas night – a police emergency call – that waited more than four-and-a-half minutes.