Union Affiliations

[Niftymedi911]

What I was trying to say was thre was 30 employee's that sued the county in federal court for the wages that were owed. These same employees and case led to the formation of our union in 1997 after the back pay was awarded to the employees. The union was formed to prevent anything like the sort from happening again. So, that's where I stand.

And yes, Lee County is a busy system, but to be honest there is only 4 or 5 trucks that actually run enough calls to consider breaking it up into 12 hr shifts. Majority of the trucks run from 4-8 calls in a 24 hr period. The busiest run 10-20 calls a 24 hr period. I'm perfectly happy with 24 hr shifts.

[p3medic]

Any non-fire based EMS agency that affiliates itself with the IAFF needs their heads examined.

[Niftymedi911]

Agreed... I don't really know why the powers the be decided to go with IAFF. But for us it's working. And besides.... according to IAFF by-laws....... a union brother cannot take the place of another union brother's job..... So by that, they can't have FD take us over...... or more law suits will ensue.

[p3medic]

I'd ask around about that one, its happened before....Collier county, next step Lee....be careful.

[Niftymedi911]

I've been watching Colier's progress...... the only thing bout here, is the FD's do not have enough balls or data to justify them having ALS transport. The only department that tried was laughed out of the county comissioner's meeting and completely denied by Lee BOCC. We're actually re-couping close to 70% of all the money that the comissioner's spend on us. Not to mention we pull in more and more grants for the county, which brings in the total grand amount of about 15% the county actually has to shell out for ouor operating budget. There is no reason for the county to get rid of us. We're making money for them. The market currently is obiviously in pain. If they we're to go Metro, they'd lose the money the county's gaining by keeping EMS and Fire seperate. The county does however, want all the FD's to become Lee County FD. Thus being able to take control over the individual tax dollars the departments have control over. Lee County EMS will be Lee County EMS well into the future. There are safeguards in place with County Ordinaces in place to keep it that way. Not to mention, we also do all of the transfers for Lee Memorial Health System which generates even more money. And our Aeromedical program pays for itself and some of the 9-1-1 operating budget. The FD's tout duplications of services, but what they don't realize is the plain fact, that whenever we go to compeitions and other FD's from the county compete with us they usually finish last. (Lehigh) We placed 5th out of 47 teams in July. They're skills and comptencies are unmatched to ours displayed by our service. If and when it all comes down to budgetary means, we win hands down. All the FD's here in the county can't afford to become transport and even then, they need permission from Lee BOCC and Lee County EMS to transport. And they will not get an ok ever from Lee County EMS. And if they think they can tout response times, we're 91% <8:59 for the year 2008. BRING IT!!!!

[Dustdevil]

Why did you need a union to fight for overtime? There is a state labor dept. for that.

Seriously. That's like paying someone 33 percent to go pick up your lottery cheque for you.

[craig]

That is one reason why unions don't work for EMS. There is no threat. Private's can walk out. If you work for a county government EMS service, you have no threat. Most have laws against striking, since you are a public safety service.

If you have no threat, you have no leverage!

no thats not true reaper

here we ae ONLY government run services

our serive had over 3000 ems workers not to mention the support staff, dispatchers, clinical trainers etc

if we strike we mean it...mind you the government has never put up a big fight when it is threatened

stay safe

[reaper]

no thats not true reaper

here we ae ONLY government run services

our serive had over 3000 ems workers not to mention the support staff, dispatchers, clinical trainers etc

if we strike we mean it...mind you the government has never put up a big fight when it is threatened

stay safe

That may be true in OZ, but not here. A lot of places have laws against public saftey being able to strike. I have seen several medics fired and blacklisted for trying a "sickout". They ended up having to move out of state. Ems is a small community and word spreads fast between services. They could not find a job anywhere close to them!

[letmesleep]

Damn, I take off for 36 hrs and this thread exploded, with so many issues to answer and discuss this may be a little long winded, so please bare with me.

Reaper, my district has been unionized for approx 18 years now. When the union came in we were extremely under paid, and dealing with old out-dated equipment, and quite frankly treated like slugs by our board of directors (BOD will be used throughout the rest of this post in reference to the board of directors). The BOD consists of 6 members that are elected by the taxpayers of the district, so the represent said taxpayers. After struggling for numerous years to improve the service to the residents as the largest district (EMS only) in the county, and ourselves for that matter, we got nowhere. The union was approached for representation and we joined the IAFF 2665. At the time we were staffed with 2 ambulances and 8 full-time employees that ranged from EMT to medic covering approx 244sq miles of rural and small urban communities. Since then we have grown to 4 ambulances staffed with 24 employees, 22 medics and 2 EMTs, both of the EMTs are finishing their medic education currently. We average approx 3000+ calls per year, and have an average transport time of 45 minutes, call turn around time is approx 2 hours from dispatch to in service. We have managed to become the leaders of emergency medical care for the county and the place that most other county districts strive to work at, is that a cocky statement? maybe, but fact is fact.

Now with all of that to soak in, lets talk about the benefit package. Starting pay for a new medic here is approx 38 to 39,000 per year with top out after 5 years at 49 to 50,000, we just got a raise so I'd have to look up those numbers to be more accurate. Medical coverage for employees is 100%, and families is 75% paid by the district with reimbursement for specialist of 50% ($40 co-pay, we get $20 back from the district). CEUs are 100% paid by the district, and $1000 per year education reimbursement for 4 years to be used at anytime during your employment. We also receive longevity pay, vacation time, sick time, paid time for education,emergency leave, short-term and long-term disability, holiday pay, retirement, uniforms allowance including boots....and the list goes on! We do work 24hr shifts, but at this pace, its not bad AT ALL.....lol

Equipment, last year we purchased 4 brand new AEV ambulances with the GMC chassis that we had full decision power with. The committee included 3 medics and 2 BOD members who basically were there to watch the money and nothing else. Our trucks are air cooled while plugged in, in house, and have built in refrigerators for those meds that require refrigeration. We run out of 3 houses currently that are all <10 years old, and are maintained by outside resources (grass, paint, so on and so forth). We utilize the LP12 that is adapted to bluetooth for 12 lead transmission to the ERs that we service.

Am I spoiled? you damn right I am! The relationship between us and our BOD is strong now and has remained strong over the years due to the strength of our shop. The IAFF lobbies in jeff city (MO) for both FF interests and the interests of EMS due to the fact that here in MO the 2665 has more EMS personnel than FFs. That might be a stretch, but the 2665 has at least 10 EMS districts that are TAX based county run that I can think of right off the top of my head. The numbers are staggering, and you can get a more accurate number here: www.iaff2665.org

So what has my union done for me? I'd have to say they have done a great job of getting me a lot of the things that all of us here in the "city" piss and moan about not having. If you get in to the web site I provided you, you can also look at some of the other contracts from the other agencies involved in the 2665 (EMS). The money does have to come from somewhere as was stated, but many of the districts have a sales tax in place of 1/4 cent, which is a recent thing state wide and is knocking off the property taxes paid by the residents.....it is slow, but is working well.

p3medic, in regards to needing my head examined, I'd like to compare benefit packages with you if you still feel the way you do after reading this. I guessing you may reconsider your statement a little following this post, but maybe not. I have been in EMS alone for 15 years in the great state of MO with NO FF experience. I have been involved in the teamsters union with a private company (gateway ambulance out of St Louis), and I'll take the IAFF any day. Yes they are FF based, but they seem to understand EMS better than the teamsters do. In that 15 years I have never had the need to join or support the MEMSA organization I listed in my previous post because of the above mentioned. I am sure they do some good within the state, but as I have listed above, they have had NOTHING to do with us getting what WE have.

[p3medic]

I'm glad it has worked out for you guys, I just don't trust the IAFF. Their mission in life is to promote the fire service, and if there was a big enough push to "merge" you into a fire service, I highly doubt they would be there for you. My benefits package is very good, pretty similar to yours in fact.