“No Raises in 2026” - Local 294 Moves Closer to Strike at Hunters Ambulance

EMS professionals with Hunters Ambulance are moving closer to a strike after management removed all proposed wage increases for 2026 during ongoing contract negotiations.

Hunters Ambulance provides emergency medical response to communities around the greater Meriden area and is owned and operated by Hartford Healthcare. EMS professionals with the company are members of IAEP Local 294.

“On October 10, management withdrew all wage offers for the year 2026 from their current contract proposal,” said IAEP National Director Philip Petit. “What started as a disagreement over safety and accountability has become much, much more.”

Despite nearly a year of contract negotiations, management’s proposal has not improved since June. Their offer, made as a “take it or leave it” proposal, gets worse each time the workers reject it. The IAEP has already filed a federal charge against management over these likely illegal tactics.

“Hunters Ambulance is sending a clear message that they don’t care about their patients and certainly not about their employees,” said Director Petit. “While the world we live in gets more expensive every single day, management is telling your 9-1-1 professionals that they already make too much money, and that they should just be happy to have their jobs.”

The IAEP is focused on continuing contract negotiations with the help of a federal mediator to avoid a strike moving forward.

“We are preparing to collect strike pledges and will continue to work with our partners in the communities these men and women proudly serve,” said Director Petit. “We hope that we’ll reach an agreement with management, but only they can decide if they care and will negotiate a fair deal.”

Those who wish to sign the petition of no confidence demanding that Hartford Healthcare do better by their EMS heroes can do so here.