Private Ambulance Unionizing?

[lotusx100]

How can I get something started, and convince others within the company it is the right thing to do?

[USMC076]

I just so happened to have worked at two private ambulances (on separate occasions) when they were attempting to Unionize. Neither went well. In one instance the employee's voted the Union down by only a few votes. In the other case, the individual stirring up Union sentiments was run out of the company before there could be a vote.

From what I've seen, small, private EMS is much nicer a beast to work for than corporate EMS and as such doesn't usually require Unionizing. It's also much easier for them to get rid of you if you start bringing things up that won't bode well for them. Be careful in whatever you do and think about the enemies you'll potentially make out of the management.

[PureAdrenalin]

By even discussing it, your placing a target on your head. Be very, very careful on how you do it.

[ChicagoAnthony]

superior ambulance in the chicago land area has been known to fire pro union people....they even settled some cases out of court because of it. Be careful, they will try to **** you in any way....done the line or whatever. These privates are in it for profit and nothing else. They don't care about you, and they don't care about patients. All they want is to rob medicare and transport patients who don't need an ambulance. It's mostly fraud, and it sickens me.

[TurkII]

Forming a union could be an extremely beneficial endevour for your workers so long as you do it appropriately.

Take a look at http://www.iaep.org - the website for the International Association of EMTs and Paramedics. They have a number of resources on their website and they would be more than happy to walk you through the process and help you out.

The first step involves getting 51% of the staff on board with the idea of forming a union. Typically each member signs something called an authorization card, which says that they would like to form a union and be represented by the union. If you know you can get over half the work force to support the union then I say go for it.

Your company cannot terminate you or change your work conditions once you have started the process.

[RyanEMVFD]

Sounds like it didn't work all that well for these people.
http://www.emsnetwork.org/artman2/publish/article_28228.shtml

[ORresQer]

Please do not use the Portland case to decide to unionize. This is this barganing units 5th union. In Portland's case, it is not the representation..its the members. When you think you can get pet berevement and 180% pay increases..this is what will happen. By the way..this is the second time in HISTORY a union has dumped its members. Not suprised it happened here.!

One of the former stewards has a great blog..check it out here



http://portlandemswatch.blogspot.com

[bstone]

superior ambulance in the chicago land area has been known to fire pro union people....they even settled some cases out of court because of it. Be careful, they will try to **** you in any way....done the line or whatever. These privates are in it for profit and nothing else. They don't care about you, and they don't care about patients. All they want is to rob medicare and transport patients who don't need an ambulance. It's mostly fraud, and it sickens me.

That about sums it up!