Hamilton paramedics awaiting overtime pay amid ongoing cyberattack: union

The cyberattack that has plagued many services in Hamilton is now preventing some workers from receiving overtime pay, according to one union leader.

The president of OPSEU Local 256, which represents around 450 paramedics in Hamilton, is concerned that patient care may be compromised as a result.

Mario Posteraro says there have been staffing issues for a number of years and the city has had the advantage of many of them working overtime.

He is warning that if they begin to refuse working overtime hours, it would lead to parked ambulances and longer response times.

According to Posteraro, it’s been two weeks and two days with no resolve and the union hasn’t received any conclusive information from the city as to when they plan on paying their workers for the extra shifts they have worked.

“Significant, thousands of dollars, I’m getting calls from some paramedic members that are owed $2,500, close to $3,000, numerous shifts are worked and they’re not being paid,” Posteraro said in an interview.

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“A lot of our paramedics rely on the extra shifts to make ends meet, when that pay is not forthcoming they look at options. option one we’re not going to work overtime, option two I can go to a neighbouring municipality where I also work the same shifts there and get paid on time.”

While the staff have been receiving their regular salary, the union says there needs to be a solution reached at the corporate level, even if it means cutting manual cheques.

The city has yet to comment on the union’s claim.

The cyberattack was initially discovered on Feb. 25 and has since been confirmed by the city as a ransomware attack.

However, it remains to be unclear when the issue will be resolved and services will return to normal.