Modesto, CA… A crowd of EMS workers held a rally calling for democracy outside a meeting Tuesday where their employer—American Medical Response (AMR)—was scheduled to appear. 60 Paramedics, EMTs, Dispatchers, and Vehicle Supply Techs from across Northern California carried signs, wore buttons, and were prepared to deliver a petition bearing several hundred signatures asking AMR to allow them to proceed with their union election for a stronger voice for EMS.

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Less than a month after 260 EMS workers in Santa Clara County, Calif., voted overwhelmingly to join United EMS Workers, another 140 in Solano County voted to do the same. The paramedics, EMTs, dispatchers, and supply service techs at emergency medical services company Medic Ambulance, will now stand with thousands of EMS workers across the country to take on issues affecting the life-saving services they provide every day.

“The community wins when we stand together as a strong union and stick up for the work we do,” said Casey Vanier, a paramedic at Medic Ambulance. “Residents are counting on us to be there, and that’s what United EMS Workers is all about. This is a great victory for our shop at Medic Ambulance!”

Founded on the principles of strength, accountability, and democracy, United EMS Workers-AFSCME Local 4911 was formed by private sector EMS professionals across the country because of the need for a union with both local strength and national unity.

Jenalee Corsello, an EMT at Medic Ambulance, was among the 93 percent who voted for a stronger union.

“I voted United EMS Workers because we need a unified voice at Medic Ambulance for EMS workers and for the public we serve,” she said.

In the coming weeks, EMS workers at Solano County will nominate and elect coworkers for their bargaining team and shop stewards after certification of their election victory.

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United EMS Workers/AFSCME Local 4911 is built on strength, accountability, and democracy

San Jose, CA… In an historic election, 280 private sector EMS professionals in Santa Clara County voted decisively to build their own local with AFSCME. EMS workers at the emergency medical services company, Rural/Metro – including Paramedics, Emergency Medical Technicians, and Vehicle Supply Techs – will become a part of the same national union that represents 20,000 EMS workers including the Uniformed Paramedics and EMTs of the FDNY. With 4 options on the ballot, last night’s vote count clearly showed that Northern California EMS workers are ready for national unity. 113 voted to join AFSCME, and not a single worker voted to have no union.

"The support we got from other AFSCME locals during this process is just amazing,” said Samantha Tennison, a Paramedic with Rural/Metro. “It feels good knowing that EMS workers on the east coast and around the country have our backs. This is going to unite EMS workers nationwide.”
 

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A strong foundation for a union of EMS workers comes from the membership and must be built on accountability and democracy at every level. That's why we are standing together as United EMS Workers/AFSCME across Northern California. The UEMSW/AFSCME Bylaws (subject to member ratification) reflect what EMS workers have been calling for all along - a member-driven union.

Click to read the Bylaws that are pending member ratification.

AFSCME BLOG | February 07, 2012

In a national campaign to win respect for EMS workers, uniformed EMTs and paramedics from the Fire Department of New York City are joining forces with their peers in Northern California to help build a new AFSCME local for emergency medical service workers on the west coast.

"Seeing our fellow EMS workers come out here and offer their help shows what national strength and unity really means," said Sam Tennison from Rural/Metro, a medical transport service, in Santa Clara. "We've gone far too long without a real voice. Standing together as United EMS Workers/AFSCME means people just like us are here and have our backs when we call on them. That's what national strength is about.”

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Dear Fraternal Sisters and Brothers of the United EMS Workers:

The Uniformed EMTs and Paramedics of Local 2507 represent EMS professionals working alongside the firefighters of the FDNY. Our local has a 50 year history as part of the 100 year history of organized labor in the City of New York. We hope you had a chance to meet some of our member volunteers on the ground in Northern California who know the benefits of being part of a strong national union – AFSCME.
 

A vote for United EMS Workers/AFSCME will ensure your seat at the table on a local, state, and national level.

 

Statement of AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee after Pres. Obama’s State of the Union address Read more >>>

Our conversations with members over the past few months have shown NEMSA’s great departure from its founding principles: democracy, representation and EMS development. While we grew in members, the quality of representation has gone down; at every negotiation, our contract is getting leaner; our stewards are left to fend for themselves with no training and support.

What has happened to the additional resources of new membership? NEMSA’s leadership has wasted our resources to fight unnecessary power battles that only weaken our union. Our needs have become secondary and the power of our employers has grown to the point where they are no longer processing grievances.

We, the members, have become the enemy. We have more to fear from the people we are paying for our representation than our own employer. We need to organize to show to our Employer that we are united. We can make decisions that are good for us and we will not let them take away what we fought for over the years. We will do that with the power of AFSCME under our own EMS local, without the distraction of NEMSA’s leadership.