LUVEMS

FOR WOWIEE, You're right, we could go on forever, but your info is not correct either. Alot of those people who signed that petition were threatened into doing so. That is a FACT I can promise you that. Some where told that they would be treated very badly by other employees if they crossed the picket line. Some NEMSA reps told people that they would take their picture and fax it to every EMS agency in CA and they would never work in EMS again. That's what I would consider DIRTY! Some employees where also telling them that they would never get hired at the local FD if they crossed. That was complete crap! This is the truth and you know it. These employees were beat down for having a different opinion. I can tell you that alot of those people who signed that petition gave their word that they would cross because they feel like they were pressured into it. I know that you would have been surprised if it had come to a strike. You say that Piners was being decietful then I guess we can say that both sides sunk to a lower level in this whole thing. Piners also has their support and they still do. Piner's was totally prepared to run in the event of a strike with alot of local support. You also would have been surprised to see the people that would have came to Piners to help them through the strike. I know Torren C. better than you probably ever will and I know what he is all about. I know that he too can be deceitful. I am also glad this is over but I do think that people should know the whole truth. You have to know that there are two sides to every story. Your side was not perfect and I'm not saying that Piners was, but lets be honest here. It's over and I am also done here. Hopefully you guys can mend some of the friendships and good work relationships that I'm sure that were ruined. Thank you!!!

FOR WOWIEE... Piners did NOT leave a bad taste in my mouth. that's why I am defending them. I know how great it is to work there(and are still friends with union and non union supporters) and as for Torren...I've heard more than once now that he took things into his own hands the last week FROM BOTH SIDES!!! And also that he has lied a bit. So maybe YOU should talk more to your committee.. FOR HUGOPRUESS....I have talked to the bargaining team and that's where I got some of my information. The last week that everyone was barganing was in San Francisco and the whole team wasn't there. It was Torren who would not negotiate! Piner employees had to go down to San Fran the last night to tell him to accept the proposal that Piner's posted on their board. Piner;s could not get them to meet so they posted what they wanted to get employees to put pressure on Torren to accept. MAYBE YOU SHOULD ASK AROUND! Also Piner's hired security guards to protect the ambulances and the employees because of the strike. They recieved threats from both sides. Some threats were about people either messing with ambulances or the people who cross the picket line. ALso some threats were about messing people who do picket because they felt it was wrong. None of those guards threatened or intimidated anyone. Get your facts straight. ALso they did hold meetings which the employer is entitled to do, but they were not manditory, and I bet you could never prove it because it's not true:) Also most of the employees did not want to strike. I know that for a fact. The strike vote was NOT about the ULP's. It was to get Piners to sign a contract. I also know that is a fact. It obviously worked. Dirty in my mind but it worked. So before HUGOPRUESS goes spouting off again maybe he should look at ALL the info and not just what NEMSA is telling.

So it's not about money but that's all that is talked about. I wonder why. Let me point out again that Piner Employees pay NOTHING for medical coverage and their copay is $10 and perscriptions are $5-$10. I know that NEMSA just negotiated a contract that raised what CoCo county employees pay, but got them a raise. I'm sure if Piner employees paid for their insurance or had less coverage then they would get paid more:). Just like I said before Piner employees run with 5 24hr stations and an average of 4 calls per day. I bet you could have more of a raise if they shut down a couple of those stations and you ran you ass off like AMR employees do. Most of these people have never had another job and don't know how good they have it. I used to work at Piners. Let me describe a day at one of the county stations. You go to work and sit on your ass until you get a call (seriously). You can watch TV or run errands or pretty much do what ever you want. Those stations run about 2 calls per day. THAT'S ON A 24HR SHIFT!!!!!!!!!!! Think about it. NEMSA SUCKS!!!! TorrenC the president is a slime ball!!! He wanted the workers at Piner's to strike. It was Torren that wasn't wanting to meet with Piner's that last week. He took things into his own hands and not in the best interest of the employees. He lied, and I'm sure he is still lying! He stated (in the paper and on the news) that this strike was NOT about the contract. He said it was about the NLRB charges against Piner's, but funny that they pulled their strike vote as soon as a contract was signed,DIRTY!!!! Oh and all the charges were dropped after a contract was signed. I would have helped Piner's out if they had a strike and I know of quite a few people who were going in to help out. I'm not against the union at all, but I think NEMSA is ran by rats.

Quote from MadAxe(If it were that simple the municipal government would have shitcanned Piners when they were unable to meet their contractual obligations, and just handed the whole ambulance portfolio over to their FD's without a second thought. That won't happen because it would require massive funding increases to the FD, since Fire-based services always cost more to run than municipal and private companies - because of their higher wages.) Actually, it was already said that if Piner's went under that the local FD and CFD would take over and have their own ambulances. Don't think for a second that the rich locals of Napa wouldn't pay more taxes to have that happen. Besides THEY SIGNED A CONTRACT!!!! There will be NO strike!!! I hope it was all worth it. Good luck to all!!!!

You must have got your information from The NEMSA leader on TV. The people that were fired at Piner's were fired because they deserved it and NO other reason. I can vouch for that. Do you think that people shouldn't be disciplined because they are going through union negotiations? People should be disciplined if they do something wrong. No one has had pay taken away because that would be illegal. The employees that have claimed to be harassed have done their fair share of harassing. I don't know where you're getting your info from, but it's not all correct. The employees have turned this into a game and should be ashamed of themselves. Piner's has always had awesome benefits. When I was there I paid only $10 per visit and $5 for prescriptions and I know it is still the same. So they make a little less, but they don't pay a penny for health coverage and they also have five 24hr stations with cable and air conditioning in each one. Piner;s would make much more money with less 24hr stations and more strike cars. You can also drive around in their ambulances and run errands, go see their family, and pretty much do what they want. So if they want to give up that then they would probably make more money. Piner's has fired less people in the last twenty years than the local Fire department has fired in the last two years. Think about that. Some of these people don't know how good they have it. Like I said, if they don't like it then go somewhere else. Don't put you community at risk because you want more than you already have.

As a former Piner employee I can tell you a bit about what is going on. I have been following this very closely for a few reasons. I have family and friends in Napa and want to know they are taken care of, and also because I think this whole thing is crazy!! I read that someone had put this was not about money, but one of the last things they were arguing about was MONEY. They got a raise but wanted more!! This is a fact! I think this is a horrible way for their union to get it's name on the board. They also said they have the support of the local FD an PD. They might have some support but i know of alot of them who think this is horrible. EMS is about serving your community not about higher pay. What if you need an ambulance while you're striking? Bet you'll be glad that those people crossed the picket line. I know that alot of the community is supporting Piners and you will see if this strike really happens. If you do get punished then it's your own fault. If I could help Piners and work for the community during this time then I would. You should be ashamed of yourselves!!!! i know how good it is all Piner's. Your own stations and you can pretty much do whatever you want as long as you're taking care of your calls. You're a bunch of wining crying babies. If you want Piner's to be a different company then go somewhere else!