Nearly 150 paramedics, working for Lambton County's emergency medical services, are working-to-rule.
The members of the Service Employees International Union [SEIU] Healthcare union implemented an essential services agreement Saturday.
Spokesperson Corey Johnson said while it's in place, paramedics will not be responding to non-emergency calls.
"Some examples of those calls would be patient transfers, like non-emergency situations from hospital to hospital or non-emergency situations from the hospital to their homes," said Johnson. "There's also lower level maintenance stuff that they won't be taking care of this, like waxing the ambulances."
One of the key outstanding issues is the bridging of benefits to age 65.
Johnson said emergency calls won't be impacted.
"Our paramedics, their first priority is to take care of the community," said Johnson. "That's why they love their job so much. This is just a step that they feel they need to take with their negotiations breaking down."
Bargaining is set to resume with the County of Lambton November 15.
The last contract expired on March 31.
