NYC-EMS renegades mull strike on New Year's Eve

[N1Medic 69]

EMS renegades mull strike on New Year's Eve

BY TONY SCLAFANI

DAILY NEWS POLICE BUREAU

Fed up with stalled contract talks, a renegade group of EMS workers is calling for an unauthorized strike on New Year's Eve, the Daily News has learned.

The potentially life-threatening job action has infuriated the leadership of the Uniformed EMTs and Paramedics Union - and union President Patrick Bahnken has warned his 2,600 members not to betray New Yorkers' trust.

"When trains and buses do not run, people are inconvenienced. When ambulances don't run, people die!" Bahnken wrote in the scathing letter obtained by The News.

The rebel group distributed flyers demanding an illegal strike or sickout on New Year's Eve after contract talks between the union and city ended Monday without an agreement.

The union has been without a contract for 40 months.

Bahnken, who walked off the job during a 1988 strike, pleaded with members to keep working.

"The [TWU] has 30,000 members with no one else competing for their work," he wrote. "Conversely, there is no shortage of private ambulance providers who would readily enter the 911 system if we walked out."

Bahnken, whose union backed Mayor Bloomberg's reelection bid, also reminded his members that the city fired nearly 100 EMTs and paramedics during the last walk out.

The major sticking point in the contract talks is pay raises, but exact financial figures were not available last night.

The mayor's office deferred comment to the FDNY late yesterday.

Fire Department spokesman Frank Gribbon said, "The Fire Department does not anticipate having a problem with its EMS workforce."

[calhobs 110]

wow the whole city will be out on strike soon it seems

[ems-buff 81]

Wow!! The City is in a lot of trouble if EMS goes on strike, but on the other hand we are the most underpaid and unappreciated job in the state of New York. So even though it is very very worng to leave these people in real danger. What are some other ways the people can listen to us.

[MGMedic 0]

The city has proposed an insult for a contract. 7.66% over 4 years, with a paltry sum for longevity pay. All that while asking for vacation days, sick days, reducing the salary of dispatchers and reducing the refresher time. It's getting to the point where subway cleaners make more than EMT's and will eventually make more than medics.

The members of our union, Local 2507, will be holding a protest rally in front of City Hall on Thursday, Jan. 5th at 12 noon. Although no one is in support of a strike or any other illegal job action, i think maybe the public isn't quite aware of how much the administration takes us for granted and how much we keep on getting shafted, yet we continue to come to work, everyday. Let's hope the public hasn't started to take us for granted. It has now been over 40 months without a contract. If anyone on this board happens to be in the area we would love to have you stop by and show your support.