I just finished reading a memo today from the president of the California Professional Firefighters association which is essentially the IAFF. It was in regards to a San Mateo Board of Supes member who had inquired as to the CPF's desire to seek FD transport in San Mateo Co. The CPF president assured to board member that when the transport contract comes up the CPF/IAFF will "aggressivly pursue" FD transport in that county. He went on to state that they did not se the need to in the past because the transport personel were members of SEIU and were affiliated with AFL-CIO. Since those members are now represented by NEMSA which is not AFL-CIO affiliated they see no reason to not seek out new employment oportunities for IAFF members. He also stated that the CPF/IAFF will acively pursue FD transport in any county that is not AFL-CIO affiliated because they do not owe professional courtesy outside the confines of AFL-CIO charters.
We have been assured by the NEMSA spokespeople that AFL-CIO affiliation is like "throwing money out of the window". I spoke with NEMSA secratary Alis in AlCo and she asked me why I would want to waste money on AFL-CIO dues when we receive nothing in return? I guess we do get something from the AFL-CIO. Protection from the Fire Departments taking over transport is something that I would consider a major benefit of AFL-CIO affiliation. If you need further info on the subject you can contact the members of IAEP in Santa Barbera Co. The IAEP in coordintaion with the AFL-CIO convinced the IAFF in that couty to rescind an FD transport proposal.
NEMSA might be able to secure the contract between AMR and the field employees in San Mateo but if the FD's decide to take the transport contract all that representation is for nothing. THe AFL-CIO is not a protection from all threats to our jobs but it is a small safeguard against some threats and I cannot recall a time when AFL-CIO affiliation has hindered us in any way. Once again, truth is truth, and if you look beyond the hype NEMSA begins to look very uncertain for the future of this business. The ideas and effects are all very impresive but when you pull back the curtain all you are left with is a very scared and unsure man playing on the irrational fears of people.
Brad Cramer- AMR Santa Cruz
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"It's time to awake, get up and fight, fight for mankind, live for a cause" The Pilfers
Yes Brad good work. However, again only part of the story. First of all when has the ALF-CIO ever prevented the loss of private EMS jobs? The fact is that they have NOT. The proff is no further than Sacramento County, 147 positions, ALCO over half of their paramedic jobs were lost. Now with Contra Costa's RFP Lou Paulson was the President of IAFF Local 1230, the same person that pushed the 3 year extension out the window. SEIU Local 250 entered into an agreement with Local 1230 to eliminate that extension. That extension would have assured the Contra Costa paramedics and EMT's the County contract for three more years. Where was the AFL-CIO then? Contra Costa stands to lose over 80 positions.
The municipal fire agencies have always tried to justify their own existence through the world of EMS. At no time, other than the issue from Southern California that you stated above has the AFL-CIO ever interjected on our behalf. If you have documentation of that case I'd like to review it, please post it here.
The municipalities also have another issue that prevents them from jumping into the world of EMS transport. That is double taxation. If a citizen pays tax's for his/her home, property, etc. then they can't bill for a service that is already covered by tax dollars, bond messure's, and alike. It is not as easy as Mr. Paulson would like to lay claim. I welcome you sir to research everything that I speak. King County, Washington has Medic One; the best EMS system in the world, they tried to bill for their expenses. The court system shut them down and they were cautioned by the court siting double taxation regulations. The other big hurdle for the fire agencies to over-come if you will, is simply their budgets. Where would any one city find the money or the resources to affectively provide patient care and transport. The city of San Francisco is trying to get out of the transport game, the City of Palo Alto is doing the same thing. Palo Alto gives most of their calls to AMR in San Mateo and Santa Clara.
Just FYI for all of you that really think that the AFL-CIO has or does afford anyone of us the protection they claim to. I hope this opens your minds a little bit. I'm sure people are going to vote for which ever union they feel most comfortable with. I'm not following blindly, I've been doing this job for well over 15 years. My vote is with NEMSA as of this moment and that may change in the next few days. Time will tell. Thank you for your time and understanding, good day.
Your "proof" that AFL-CIO hasn't prevented fire takeover of private EMS jobs is completely flawed. Firstly, Sacramento: In 1991 there were four ambulance services up in Sac. The EMS system there was rated by JEMS as the worst system in the state of California, so the authorites in that area revamped the system and with all the squabbling among the owners of the companies Fire ended up with the transport. This is EXACTLY what's going to happen if we lose strong representation with AFL-CIO.
Second: In ALCO (and keep in mind that I work part-time in ALCO), Fire did NOT take over transport. None of the ALS fire departments transport there. AMR decided on (and got the county to get on board with) a reduction to one paramedic/one EMT staffing due to the Fire Departments going ALS, in return for concessions in response times. This is NOT the fire department taking over our jobs.
Third, Contra Costa: Torren's negotiation with that "extension" (while with SEIU) was flawed. There is too much turn-over in 3 years to make a contract extension a valid way of protecting jobs. CoCo needed something definitive, and they got it: what was actually finally agreed on--AFTER Torren left for NEMSA--was better: Workforce Protection. In other words, language that states that no paramedic will lose their job to an EMT until that paramedic resigns. The ALS workforce reduction will happen by attrition. Same in ALCO. None of us lost our jobs because Oakland Fire went ALS.
No union is going to be able to stop a company from moving to one-and-one staffing if the county allows them to do it. That isn't necessarily tied to ALS fire. Down in Monterey, where I work, in many places we're one-and-one with BLS fire or first responder police. The AFL-CIO protection is to keep a fire department from winning an ALS Transport contract and kicking us all out onto the street en-mass. Down here, Salinas Fire Dept. (the only ALS Dept) backed off of going for transport in the new RFP after Sal Roselli from 250 wrote a letter to IAFF citing Article 20 violations.The memo from Lou Paulson is an example of that kind of massive job loss that Article 20 protects us from.
The municipalities also have another issue that prevents them from jumping into the world of EMS transport. That is double taxation. If a citizen pays tax's for his/her home, property, etc. then they can't bill for a service that is already covered by tax dollars, bond messure's, and alike.
The above quote is only true for FIRE PROTECTION. The FD, at least down here bills for ALS if the patient is transported.
Glendale fire took over it's ALS transport in 2001 and SEIU did nothing to protect the employees of AMR in Glendale. You see even if your under AFL-CLO your union is useless when it come to Fire departments and City board members.
the FD took over the contract because the Glendale employees were not makeing their times.. times that are a contractual agreement to be met. They were not living up to their end of the bargin.. and please correct me if I'm wrong, but the contract was up for bid anyways.
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"I have given my word to Amy, Aultum that if they get over 75 signatures that I will with drawl my petition. " Carlos 10/6 "I will not pull the petition. " Carlos 10/10
Clear my side you are right as far as the contract was up. But wrong on the eta's. You see every fire department look at transports as money. That what this business is all about. The medic in Glendale have been their since Pro was the company. When AMR took over they put alot of time and money into the contract. The real issue is that if the AFL-ClO is in charge of the SEIU and IAFF why did they not stop them from taking the jobs away from AMR employees. That's what everyone is saying that if you leave SEIU that the IAFF will take over the ALS transport. Well it seems to me that what happen anyways in Glendale. So who to protect us from the F.D. Any way in Glendale/North Hollywood that not the case anyway. We are BLS transport so why vote for IAEP. Is the AFL-CLO going to protect the con homes from the Westmed, Bowlers, and Schaffer from taking our jobs. NOPE.
What you stated proves the point against Icemedic. FD gets paid for transports. It is true that your RFP was up though and yourteta's were off... According to my sources. Secondly, AFL-CIO cannot protect you from missing your ETA's.
Good point. Dont make accusations that you cant prove, or at least cite good sources. We set the "back up your info with facts" rule and we all need to play by them. some of the posts on here are turning into insult wars and it saddens me. Why cant we have discussions without trading insults. Icemedic and Equus and I might not agree on these issues but I am enjoying the interaction with them on here because they back up their opinions with facts and examples from the real world. The info we debate is important to the other members who have not made up their minds (I am only about 60/40 in favor of IAEP at this point) and we need to make it available without people feeling ashamed of their opinions or stances. Dont vote in fear. dont vote through intimidation, by me or anyone else on this board or in you county. Make the choice that is right for you.
-- Edited by snake911 at 09:46, 2004-08-27
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"It's time to awake, get up and fight, fight for mankind, live for a cause" The Pilfers
