I've heard numerous complaints as to how FD's are taking over EMS by storm, how they use political influence and propaganda to achieve their goals. As it stands, the EMS community as a whole is greatly outgunned.
So, why not take a page out of the fire service's book and create unions and political organizations similar to the IAFF? Strength in solidarity. The whole "increase educational requirements to justify higher salaries" and such is a great idea, but not likely to work without fire service style politics.
"But my organization is in a right-to-work state" you say? Virginia, where I live and work, is one of those states. Our union, the IAFF Local 2068 has done a fantastic job using political influence only. The IAFF is hard at work trying to pass a national collective bargaining law. http://www.iaff.org/09News/080709CB.htm
This would be a great help to EMS, as any third service agency could unionize and change their reality for the better. I don't know about you, but I'd sure be tired of being slapped around with low pay, lousy retirement, benefits, working conditions, etc. I couldn't spend my career in fear of losing my job based on the whim of management. I won't tolerate being "owned" by a company. You shouldn't either. Just think, promotions could be based on a score off of a totally objective, unbiased test, just like the fire service. No more of the good ole boy or drinking buddies method of promotion.
The Jamaica/Flushing/Brookdale EMS system attatched themselves to the 1199, a large nursing union in NYC. Their EMS has a pension, collective bargaining, competitive pay in the area with EMT's topping out in the low 20's and medics in the low to mid 30's per hour. Mary Immaculate Hospital's EMS attatched themselves to the Teamster's Union, and enjoyed a similar situation. At least they did before the hospital closed due in large part to a scourge of uncompensated cases.
Sit back and complain about how the fire service gets practically anything and everything they want, or get up off your can and help EMS get it's fair shake. You decide.
So, why not take a page out of the fire service's book and create unions and political organizations similar to the IAFF? Strength in solidarity. The whole "increase educational requirements to justify higher salaries" and such is a great idea, but not likely to work without fire service style politics.
"But my organization is in a right-to-work state" you say? Virginia, where I live and work, is one of those states. Our union, the IAFF Local 2068 has done a fantastic job using political influence only. The IAFF is hard at work trying to pass a national collective bargaining law. http://www.iaff.org/09News/080709CB.htm
This would be a great help to EMS, as any third service agency could unionize and change their reality for the better. I don't know about you, but I'd sure be tired of being slapped around with low pay, lousy retirement, benefits, working conditions, etc. I couldn't spend my career in fear of losing my job based on the whim of management. I won't tolerate being "owned" by a company. You shouldn't either. Just think, promotions could be based on a score off of a totally objective, unbiased test, just like the fire service. No more of the good ole boy or drinking buddies method of promotion.
The Jamaica/Flushing/Brookdale EMS system attatched themselves to the 1199, a large nursing union in NYC. Their EMS has a pension, collective bargaining, competitive pay in the area with EMT's topping out in the low 20's and medics in the low to mid 30's per hour. Mary Immaculate Hospital's EMS attatched themselves to the Teamster's Union, and enjoyed a similar situation. At least they did before the hospital closed due in large part to a scourge of uncompensated cases.
Sit back and complain about how the fire service gets practically anything and everything they want, or get up off your can and help EMS get it's fair shake. You decide.