The Union representing more than 7000 allied health professionals in Manitoba, including rural paramedics and emergency dispatch, says its members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike mandate.

The Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals (MAHCP) says its members, who have been without a contract for five years, voted 99% in favour of the mandate.

“Allied health professionals have been waiting more than five years for a contract, through a pandemic and a worsening staffing crisis,” said MAHCP President Jason Linklater. “This strike vote result clearly shows they are done waiting.”

MAHCP members work as rural paramedics and emergency dispatch; diagnostic imaging and laboratory technologists; mental health and addictions counsellors, respiratory therapists, midwives and over 40 other specialized professions that are essential to delivering health care for Manitobans.

The wages of more than 6500 health care professionals have been frozen since 2017, and the union says that in that time, the cost of living has increased by 20%.

MAHCP has expressed growing concern in recent years due to escalating vacancy rates and critical understaffing in many areas including rural emergency medical services, diagnostics, and mental health.