Unions

[CoyoteMedic]

Don't get my wrong, gents, I'm not bad mouthing unions. When I worked for CDF as a firefighter for the 2002 fire season, they helped me in getting my COBRA pay that the unit I worked for never included into my check.

But I've also had a experiance with NEMSA in the past. I won't go into to much detail, but long story short, they tried to come into the company I worked for, and it was a one sided mud slinging fight. NEMSA doing the mud slinging. Then two days prior to the voting, they pulled out of the process.

As for people losing their jobs for little stuff, keep in mind, what I'm saying here is hear say. I do not personally know anyone that this has happened to.

[hugopreuss]

For the most part, if you've got the right union representing you it can be a great benefit having a union. I work as an ER tech in Norcal after having sat in bus for 15 years (I know, some here have accused me of being a union rep. I am a SEIU shopsteward and let me tell you they suck and are corrupt beyond believe, so yeah! I don't like them!). As for NEMSA pulling out of an election two days before the vote. The NEMSA union steward from Sacramento AMR told me that there was a company (First response[or responder]) and yes, NEMSA was trying to unionize them. But it seems that the employees "worshipped" (not my words, just quoting) the owner of the company and that the employees let the one employee who stood up to management hang out to dry by not supporting her. You can't have a union that's effective if the employees are happy with burgerflippin' wages and bow before the owner like a kool aid drinker and hang a fellow employee out to dry. Even good'ol SEIU doesn't organize outfits like that.

[Asysin2leads]

Despite the fact that compared to the IAFF and the PBA our little union is a 98 pound weakling, they have done some remarkable things for its members and for EMS as a whole. This has included:

Fighting to get a member his promotion denied by the department because he happened to be fighting in Iraq when his name came up on the promotion list

Working to get benefits for members sick and dying from inhaled dust and chemicals at the WTC site

Getting a new contract with an 8% raise for its members

Getting protective equipment based on quality, rather than lowest bidder, for its members

And a whole host of other stuff. So far my experience with my union has been very positive.

[becksdad]

I agree with Asys about positive experiences with unions. Our local is part of IAFF, and they have fought for, and won many advances for us. When this service first unionized, IAFF fought and won back pay for overtime that went back several years. The contract that was initiated after that ensured protection from abuse of overtime and other working conditions.

Our last contract included decent pay raises (I don't recall the percentage, but pretty good over 3 years). Plus decent COLA, with additional 3% added over the COLA. This year, our local is negotiating another pay raise that is fair and decent. It would adjust employees who are compressed in pay due to their starting base pay from years ago, and it calls for decent starting base salaries, with top out for EMT's at $50,000, and for Paramedics at $85,000. This is actually comparable to other agencies in the area, and keeps us competitive. It will be nice to be able to attract top-notch providers and keep them.

Our local is also great about representing members with grievances over disciplinary actions or firings. If someone deserves termination, our local will represent them, but in actualitywill support the action. If someone does not deserve an action, this union will fight for its members, including retaining attorneys for court proceedings.

So I have to say that our union has been great for us. I am proud to be a member of IAFF. (my Dad was a lifelong member too). Unionization has certainly improved our living standards and working conditions beyond what the County government would have done for us.

[ffpm41]

1) The company:

We were members of the United Food and Commercial Workers, a great union for supermarkets, bad union for EMS. We got crap for support because they were busy getting better benefits for the checkers at Safeway that were making $27.00 with some of the best medical insurance there is. We made $7.00 an hour and had to pay most of our medical. I made more as a laborer for the government at $10.00 an hour with better benefits. Granted I started working their to get experience to prepare for medic school, was 19-21 yrs old, didn't have a family and lived rent free in a fire station. Most of the married guys worked a bunch of hours to make ends meet.

2) The fire service/government:

I am now a IAFF Firefighter/Paramedic and love my union. They work hard for us in regards to wages, hours and working conditions. They have helped save several jobs, increased our staffing and improved safety equipment. Case in point, we had a medic get in a bad off-duty accident with a severe hand injury. The department doc, who's has little experience with firefighters and does not know our duties, said he wasn't fit to come back to work after the orthopedic doc and occupational therapist who specialize in hand injuries said he could. The union fought to get a second opinion and won, he is back to work doing everything the department doc said he couldn't.

With unions there are two factors, what state your in and who represents you. Many states, including Arizona, Florida and Virgina, are called "Right-to-Work" states. They do not recognize collective bargaining, so even if you do organize it is up to your employer to say yes. Right-to-Work = right to fire. Other than you being fired and it violates Federal or State discrimination laws, you are an at will employee. If your boss wants to fire you he can.

Other states, including Washington, California and New York it is your legal right to organize. If you have problems with your employer your union will assist you trying to rectify the issue. The union negotiates wages, hours and working conditions, one set of rules for all instead of a set of rules for each employee.

As for who represents you, in the first story we weren't represented by a union that understood EMS. You have to have a union with experience in EMS, it could be the IAFF, Teamsters, SEIU or several others, to get the best representation. In the electronic age it is easy to do research on what union will best fit your organization. You also get out of a union what you put into it.

[Dustdevil]

Other states, including Washington, California and New York it is your legal right to organize.

Nothing special about those three states. It is your legal right to organise in every state.

The only difference is, in the non-socialist states, it is your legal right to not organise if you so desire.

[streetsmart]

I am not necessarily against unions, although I prefer to negoiate my causes, problems, salary, etc,. with my manager - rather than paying someone to do it.

Yes I do realize there are some real blood sucking (money grubbing) services out there, but my service is small, less than 20 employees, county owned, tax supported and not for profit.

[Oilersfan1]

I am not unionized. I have worked for a union before but currently I don't. I feel the company I work for currently treats me very good.

Cheers

[ffpm41]

I understand that some companies treat their employees good, others don't. Costco and Les Schwab Tires are prime example of a company that is good to there employees and are non union.

Streetsmarts, your more likely to get what you want if you collectively ask for things instead of individually. One union, one voice.