Niagara Falls is amalgamating its fire dispatch services with St. Catharines.

Rather than Niagara Falls retaining its own dispatch with continued implementation of Next Generation 911, politicians decided to join with the Garden City, which dispatches 27 municipal fire services, including nine in Niagara.

The union representing Niagara Falls firefighters has threatened legal action against the city, arguing city council’s decision is removing bargaining unit work.

Council directed staff to appoint an arbitrator or another appropriate body to hear the matter in an expedited manner.

The St. Catharines dispatch centre is planning renovations at a cost of $1 million and aims to go live with its digital-based NG911 system in mid-November.

“The St. Catharines contract will provide cost cert

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