INIT915

Date: 3/12/12 Time: 1230 Hrs Location: Croton Ave at Sassinoro Blvd Frequency: Multiple Units Operating: Mohegan FD - 2 Engines (252/258), Chiefs (2261, 2266, 226-40) LZ Detail - 226-42 (LZ Command), 2268, E253 Mohegan VAC - 3 Ambulances (69B1-69B3) Cortlandt/Peekskill Paramedics - 4 ALS Units (39M2, 35M1, 35M2, 3511) NYSP - Patrols (3K42, 3K57, 3K47, 3K41), BCI (5K24, 5K114, 5K115, 5K113), Collision Reconstruction (5K35), Aviation (1H18), Zone Commander (3K1), Duty Sgt (3K48), Duty Zone Sgt (3K55) WCPD - Patrols (1A and P/SRO) Peekskill FD - Engine 132 to MFD Station 1 Peekskill VAC and Yorktown VAC - 1 Ambulance each on S/B Con-Ed Emergency Weather Conditions: Nice Description Of Incident: Single vehicle PIAA, first crashed through a Utility Pole, then became airborne, finally crashing into a tree. (1) Subject ejected. (2) others heavily entrapped with prolonged extrication. All three transported to WCMC in critical condition. Reporters: PFDRes47cue, FF398, CG206 (O/S) Writer: INIT915 (O/S) Update from CG206: 2266 (IC) until arrival of 2261 approx. 1312hrs Res-Q Jacks and cribbing used to stabilize vehicle Hurst cutters, spreaders and rams operating All patients removed from embankment by utilizing stokes basket and ropes ** It was a hectic scene, so if I missed any units or you can provide additional, PM me.

Date: 03/02/12 Time: 6:10 p.m. Location: Bear Mountain Parkway j/w/o Rt 6 Interchange Frequency: Multiple Units Operating: Mohegan Fire, Mohegan VAC, Peekskill VAC, Peekskill FD Medics, NYSP Weather Conditions: Cold Description Of Incident: Serious 2-car PIAA w/ Pin and extended extrication. Writer: INIT915

I share your sentiment. The article leaves some unanswered questions. Was preregistering a condition of attending? If so, did anyone who preregistered actually get turned away? I mean we have members of this forum who seemed to have gotten in, and even the quote in the news seems to indicate most sessions went off without a hitch, no? This is often the problem in emotional battles like this one. Make sense the issue your going to hang your hat on is solid. Not just in the Vulcans case, but in general. I mean, if there was a condition of preregistering and everyone who did was admitted, what are your grounds? In order to build public sentiment, you want your argument solid. You don't want it undermined.

The real question is: Do you really see the "Evacuation Plan" as potentially successful, even if Bee-Line buses are operating? I know I don't.

I would tend to agree with you. One can read between the lines in this story and see it for what it is. Was this not the same forum that recently went crazy over Whitney Houston? This forum had little trouble jumping to conclusions in that case. But, many are hesitant when it's a fellow FF/LEO/Medic, etc. Civil service is just like any other line of work. We have winners and losers, and some who made it onto the job who never should have.

Well, I can only hope there is also a reciprocal NH law that allows homeowners to sue the Fire Department for any damage they cause while putting out house fires!

A few are EMT's, but not many. They are in communication via a Nextel system with TMC.

Right, you can't. I was answering the earlier post who referenced 2WD for cost-savings.

Well, there is a good reason. The 4WD Tahoes are not pursuit rated. When NYSP purchased the 2WD, they were dropped several inches to meet Division's standards. Without the modification, they were determined to be too great of a roll-over risk.

"A bunch of angry RN's going through menopause." Are you serious dude?

My union doesn't even have a newsletter. Or maybe they do and they lost my address. Or maybe my union president stole so much of our money, they can't afford to mail the newsletters out. I should check on that forthwith.

Really? Someone is going to shoot at you in the parking lot because you don't like Unions? Your hyperbole is even more nonsensical then your last 30 posts. (BTW, there are non-unionized hospitals.)

Watching Fox News and subscribing to the Tea Party Newsletter do not constitute legitimate "research."

Do you ever ask yourself why career FFs and law enforcement officers in the NY Metro area do so well in terms of salary, benefits, work schedules, working conditions, pensions, benefits, etc.? And then do you ask yourself why EMS workers need to work 2, 3 maybe 4 jobs and still earn less then their civil service counterparts, and all without the same benefits? Why would you bash unions who figured out how to play the game and maybe encourage EMS to follow their lead?

This from the same guy who only an hour ago suggested that 90% of TCNY should just not show up and staff 911 ambulances. You cannot have it both ways.

You don't get it. No one here has argued that unions are perfect. No one. Union organizations, just like private businesses, non-profits, hospitals, schools, have their winners and their losers. Many union officials have been kicked to the curb when their unethical dealings have been brought to light. But guess what, the same thing happens even in the absence of unions. I'm not sure where your hostility comes from. There are so many non-union shops around here. You have every right to avoid unionization. And from the sound of it, both you and your prospective union would do well to avoid each other. Is it your position that employment in absence of unions if perfection? If you do, I think we can post just as many videos of critiques of those. Think about it, every few months we read about volunteers embezzling from VAC's, FD's, little leagues, etc., etc., etc. So, what is your point? You don't like unions. Unions don't like you. You don't have to engage them. Where are you going with all this?

I didn't have to "paint a picture". Those were your own words. Advocating a work stoppage in the field of emergency services. I think it's clear to everyone now where you are coming from.

So, your suggesting a work action that could potentially leave 911 ambulances unstaffed in a system like NYC? That's your answer? What kind of ethics, morals, and integrity do you preach? The irony here is rich. Public employee unions cannot and would not do the exact thing you suggest. We come in everyday, staff our units, respond to calls, and let union representation negotiate for change. Instead, you suggest leaving the public at risk? You've spent the better part of the last few days taking on the evil, dreaded, unscrupulous unions when your solution is to abandon your post. Very interesting.

I think, in short, this describes the utility of unions: Without unions, it's 100% management's way, 100% of the time. With unions, there is at least some give or take. Management never gets 100% of what they and neither do the unions. At least it assures some level of compromise, and neither side is holding all the cards I mean, could you imagine if management, in some sectors, had unchecked power. Workers wouldn't stand a chance. And in some right-to-work states, that's how it is. Masterofmetal, this isn't directed to you, as you have made up your mind long before any debate began. Rather, it's directed to anyone who does seek to see the benefit of unionization. Luckily, for many, this is America. There are plenty of places you can go to work and take whatever management offers you, without recourse. Not a single person has to belong to a Union.

I agree. That was actually what I was suggesting. A large-scale approach, versus each agency or union local trying to accomplish it on such a small scale. I think a larger union, with membership from across the regional EMS spectrum could help push reform more effectively than a small group at a single agency. Unions give you organization and lobbying power to seek change that often cannot be accomplished by a few providers, no matter how well intentioned they are.

Let me pose this question. (And in full disclosure, my EMS days are behind me, so I don't really have a dog in this fight, so I feel fairly unbiased towards EMS unionization.) Does anyone think that if EMS was unionized locally and on a larger and more organized scale, they would be on par (or closer) in terms of pay, benefits, working conditions, etc. to their IAFF and PBA cohorts? I would say yes, but I'm open to an argument as to why they wouldn't be...

I'll go out on a limb and say he's referring to your many posts here detailing your difficulty in finding employment.

Seems a little melodramatic, no?

And Gary Carter too!

Could you cite these recent cases? There is quite an extensive and established body of law that public sector employees do NOT enjoy unfettered 1st Amendment protection.