Firefighters place on leave over delay in patient's care returning to work: union

WINNIPEG -- The union representing four firefighters placed on leave over allegations a dispute with a paramedic led to a delay in a patient’s care says they’re going back to work.

In October last year, two paramedics and the four firefighters attended to a call of a 23-year-old woman with a self-inflicted stab wound.

A third-party report concluded two firefighters refused to help a paramedic on the scene because of personal animus towards the paramedic.

It also found a lack of concern for the patient due to the presence of implicit bias because she’s Indigenous.

Now a letter to union members says the disciplinary process is complete and the firefighters will be back at work shortly.

It’s unclear what, if any, discipline they received as the memo says the union can’t provide details at this time.

“We also want to advise the membership that this issue is not finished,” The memo states. “We will ensure that all aspects of justice for what these members went through will be followed through.”

The United Firefighters of Winnipeg has called on the mayor to release a video from the incident it says will show there was no delay.

In an emailed statement to CTV News the city said appropriate action has been taken and there is no risk to the public.

"As per the collective agreement, there is a multistep disciplinary process and this process is still ongoing. We will not comment on any specific disciplinary action taken with respect to any individual involved in this process," a spokesperson for the city said.

The city said it is continuing to move forward with anti-racism training.

"The WFPS workplace culture assessment is currently underway, and we are currently in the process of providing front line WFPS leaders with mandatory diversity and inclusion training and the remainder of the WFPS staff will be participating in this education in the near future."

The city also offers Indigenous Awareness training sessions and the spokesperson said all WFPS members have taken one of the two courses, while all new employees are required to take the training as well.