Quebec and a union representing 3,500 paramedics have reached a tentative labor agreement, ending a contract dispute that left workers without a deal for more than three years.
Deal follows year of strikes over pay and conditions
The agreement, announced after six days of negotiations, covers over 1,000 paramedics employed by Urgences-santé, the public ambulance service for Montreal and Laval. The union confirmed the deal but did not disclose terms, saying details will be presented to members "as soon as possible."
Strikes began in July 2025, with pay disputes at the center of the conflict. Neither the union nor the Quebec government has released specifics on wages or other provisions.
Government hails deal as win for workers and public
Quebec Treasury Board President France-Élaine Duranceau’s office called the agreement a step toward "improved working conditions" while ensuring "efficient and continuous ambulance services." The statement did not address whether the deal includes retroactive pay or other concessions.
The 3,500 workers affected include paramedics, emergency medical technicians, and support staff across the province.
Next steps: Union members to vote on proposal
The union will now present the tentative agreement to its members for ratification. No timeline has been set for the vote, but union leaders have pledged to move quickly. If approved, the deal would end one of Quebec’s longest-running labor disputes in the healthcare sector.
