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A Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) flag during an education support workers rally outside of the Saskatchewan Legislative Building in Regina, Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu
By The Canadian Press

B.C. 911 workers issue 72-hour strike notice after months of failed talks

Jun 5, 2026 | 7:46 PM

VANCOUVER — A union representing more than 700 emergency communications professionals in British Columbia has issued a 72-hour strike notice after months of negotiations with the employer broke down.

CUPE 8911 says it’s calling on the labour minister to appoint a special mediator to help the union and E-Comm reach a new collective agreement.

The union said last month that its members had voted 95 per cent in favour of giving leadership a strike mandate amid growing concerns about staffing, workload and long-term sustainability of the 911 system.

The union says negotiations had resumed this week, but the sides were unable to make any progress toward a deal.

CUPE 8911 says it will be in a legal strike position as of 3:29 p.m. on Monday, and an essential service order will be in place outlining the level of service that must be maintained during any job action.

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E-Comm says emergency communication services will remain uninterrupted following the strike notice, and negotiations will take place over the weekend.

It said in a statement that it supports the requested appointment of a special mediator.

Donald Grant, president of CUPE 8911, says emergency communications professionals are being “pushed to their breaking point.”

“With wildfire season approaching, the potential for extreme weather events, and increased summer demand, we are entering one of the busiest periods of the year for B.C.’s emergency communications system,” Grant said in a statement. “The time to address the staffing crisis facing B.C.’s 911 system is now.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 5, 2026.

The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

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