Labor & Union Issues
The labor and union issues topic brings together a range of relevant news, articles and resources for EMS personnel and agencies.
An EMS agency, facing an applicant shortage, surveyed EMS providers to see if employee-employer compensation expectations matched
Hire EMS providers with the experience, positive attitude and maturity to help your volunteer service be excellent in its commitment to the community
We laugh about our own fatigue-related episodes, but such gallows humor belittles the real issue that lies beneath
A Change.org petition launched by a Kentucky EMT has received nearly 25,000 signatures over the last two weeks
The order raised concerns that personnel who work part time at other public safety agencies would no longer be available to assist those communities
Union leaders said the COVID-19 crisis has driven 911 calls up by 40% while staff is decreasing as department members test positive
Union representatives say quarantined firefighters are being denied workers鈥� compensation because it鈥檚 too difficult to prove they were exposed through work
Personnel will instead be asked to wear masks and monitor for symptoms in order to prevent staffing shortages
Santa Clara County has decided to expedite COVID-19 testing for emergency personnel in the hopes of avoiding staffing shortages
Officials said federal privacy laws mean first responders can鈥檛 be told if they came in contact with a patient who tested positive for the virus
Paramedics, EMTs, firefighters, deputies and dispatchers will receive a pay raise of up to 5% and bonuses of up to $4,000 as the county seeks to retain personnel
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Saturday that a Brooklyn firefighter tested positive; shifts for firefighters and EMS have been modified in response to the outbreak
The union says EMS providers were not told their sub-station was being used as a coronavirus testing site
The move angered EMS union leaders who say EMTs and paramedics in the city continue to be deprioritized
FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro said negotiations between EMS unions and city officials are underway
Under the proposed act, federal grant funding for mental wellness support would no longer carry a funding match requirement
Council members raised concerns over hiring practices after noting the low proportion of minority first responders in the minority-majority city
The legislation package was introduced by Assemblymember and former EMT Freddie Rodriguez
Under current law, volunteers may only be covered if they are injured during an emergency response and not during other on-duty activities
Tampa Council Chairman Luis Viera championed the addition of the second ambulance after hearing of the station鈥檚 overwhelming call volume
A spokeswoman for the state鈥檚 Department of Health declined to say why former Office of EMS Director Scot Phelps was terminated on Wednesday
One union leader said 75% of the city鈥檚 EMS workforce has less than five years of experience due to high turnover
The paramedic currently being considered for promotion to lieutenant is currently under investigation for one of at least five complaints
The arbitrator said the firefighter gave varying accounts of the incident and failed to contain her emotions during the call
The union posted their concerns on social media and published an open letter suggesting possible solutions
The arbitrator said the lieutenant鈥檚 firing was unfair because three other medics involved in the incident were only suspended
The uncle of FDNY EMT Yadira Arroyo, who was killed in 2017, questioned city council over the disparities in pay for EMS versus fire personnel
The city is asking a judge to reverse the decision of an arbitrator that reinstated the firefighter, who is facing felony charges
According to a memo by the supervisor he claimed harassed him, the medic broke Florida law in five cases, two of which resulted in death
Medics said the new schedule, which increases hours and implements a shift bidding system, will increase fatigue and risks to safety
Cleveland EMS providers are protesting the city鈥檚 repeated legal challenges to a contract that would provide paid leave and treatment for PTSD
Union members expressed outrage and urged support for a picket march after the city again challenged an arbitration ruling in court
A city board rescinded layoff notices for the paramedics after the chief sought to replace them with firefighter-paramedics
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