Ornge and CAW ratify collective agreement

Transport medicine service reaches agreement with paramedics' union

TORONTO , Dec. 21 /CNW/ - Ornge, Ontario's transport medicine service provider, and the Canadian Auto Workers union (CAW), have successfully ratified their collective agreement on behalf of the organization's 180 flight and land paramedics.

"Paramedics are at the heart of Ornge, providing high quality and compassionate care to many of Ontario's sickest and most gravely injured patients. I am very pleased that they have given overwhelming approval to our agreement," said Rhoda Beecher , spokesperson for the Ornge management bargaining team.

This is the second collective agreement between Ornge and the CAW, and will be in place for the next three years. It is the result of negotiations which began in August 2009 , and includes wage increases in each year of the agreement and increased benefits.

ABOUT ORNGE

Ornge operates from bases across the province of Ontario and performs more than 18,000 admissions annually. It coordinates all aspects of Ontario's aero medical transport system, the new critical care land transport program, and the authorization of air and land ambulance transfers between hospitals. Ornge is dedicated to the provision of high quality patient care through innovative transport medicine.

For further information: Kelly Long, Ornge Corporate Communications, [phone], [email protected]