TORONTO, Canada — Toronto paramedics have been told to keep their mouths shut about union complaints or face “disciplinary action” or termination.
A letter to Toronto paramedic Ken Horton from EMS commander Michael McCallion said that Horton should stop making public complaints about being short-staffed and mismanaged, according to the Toronto Sun.
Horton previously complained to the Toronto Sun of not having enough paramedics on hand to respond to calls, consequently worsening response times.
At least three other paramedics who launched similar complaints have also received letters in an effort to silence them.
These letters come after new Chief Paul Raftis and other EMS management have docked pay for paramedics who call in sick and denied vacation time requests on weekends. The measures were taken in response to paramedics opting not to pursue voluntary overtime.
Horton told the Toronto Sun that he will continue to speak to the press because he believes that the public’s safety has been put at risk by being understaffed by as many as 200 paramedics.
Commander McCallion says that the complaints by the outspoken paramedics are exaggerated and that paramedics do want voluntary overtime but did not wish to speak further as it is an “internal matter.”