Officials try to curb ambulance drivers strike

Amanda Finnegan

Clark County Commission Chairman Rory Reid (left) and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman (right) addressed the issue of a potential Las Vegas paramedic strike beginning Nov. 28 at a Wednesday afternoon news conference.

By Amanda Finnegan (contact)

Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008 | 7:02 p.m.

American Medical Response

The threat of Las Vegas' ambulance drivers and paramedics going on strike at the height of the flu season and the upcoming holidays has led local government officials to step in today to help settle the differences.

Emergency medical services professionals with Las Vegas American Medical Response ambulance company voted to go on strike Nov. 28, the day after Thanksgiving, because of an unresolved contract dispute with AMR, government officials announced in a news conference today.

If Las Vegas AMR employees strike, about 100 members are expected walk out, leaving 60 percent of local ambulances out of service.

AMR plans to bring in out-of-state drivers if employees do go on strike — which will hurt services, according to Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman.

“These [Las Vegas] paramedics know this community, have served it well, and are better suited to continue that service. No one wants AMR to bring in replacement drivers from out of state. Their lack of familiarity with the community could potentially slow response times,” Goodman said.

Goodman and Rory Reid, Clark County Commission chairman, met with AMR and IAEP this morning to encourage the parties to resolve their differences for the sake of the community.

“We urged them to resolve because we are a tourist-based economy and the world does not need to hear that Las Vegas does not have the service of its paramedics,” Reid said. “We asked them to resolve this because it may jeopardize the heath and safety of our residents.”

The government cannot legally intervene or threaten the two private parties but instead has urged the organizations to communicate, Goodman said.

The city of Las Vegas announced a contingency plan in the event of a strike. The Las Vegas Fire and Rescue Department will supply nine additional units in addition to the 21 the department operates each day. The County Fire Department currently has 24 life support vehicles.

The two sides have not begun contract negotiations yet. Representatives of AMR said it is unclear who the paramedics’ representative is since their contract with Service Employees International Union Local 1107 has expired. The paramedics say their new union is International Association of EMTs and Paramedics.

According to the National Labor Relations Act, AMR cannot legally bargain with the IAEP Local 5000. It is considered an unfair labor practice for an employer to bargain with any group other than the labor organization certified by the National Labor Relations Board as the bargaining unit's legal representative.

AMR has filed a petition asking the NLRB to resolve the matter. If the board validates the company's position, AMR will request an NLRB-supervised election, which would allow employees to vote on which group should represent them.

IAEP has blocked an NLRB election by filing an unfair labor practices charge against AMR. The first hearing is schedule for Dec. 2, the Tuesday following the set strike date.

Once the dispute over representation is resolved, Goodman said, “I see no reason why they can’t sit down at the bargaining table and take care of the issues at hand.”

- Sun writer Mary Manning contributed to this story.

Discussion: 4 comments so far…

By unfgvn2

11/13/08 at 5:27 p.m.

Suggest removal

OK, first thing its not "ambulance drivers" It is paramedics and EMT's. We are not glorified cab drivers. Those of you that have had to call 911 for help know this. Firemen and women are there to fight fires. They are certified to handle medical emergencies but they never do. If you needed help would you rather have someone that does nothing but medical work to help you or someone that has virtually no clue as to what they are doing. That is like going to a dentist that only works as a dentist 10 hours a year and works full time as a garbage man the rest of the year. Not a good idea. All I can say is good luck, and pray that no one I know needs medical help if they strike.
By fellowmedic

11/14/08 at 8:28 a.m.

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I love being a Paramedic. It's something that I am very proud of. To become an EMT or a Paramedic (Not ambulance drivers) is a task that doesn't come easy. The schooling itself is rough enough and then you must complete a field internship. Once you make it and you proudly wear the Paramedic patch, you run from call to call and are very happy to do the job. We, the non tax based private ambulance companies Medic west and AMR who just happen to be sister companies owned by EMSC, work very hard to provide the public with the care that they need. I am employed by Medic west. It's not a bad place to work but it could be a whole lot better. As a matter of fact, just a few years ago, it was an amazing place to work. But, as all good things must come to an end, EMSC bought out medic west. So here we are. I don't think that the general public understands what kind of company that we work for. We are under paid, over worked. MWA (Medic West Ambulance) isn't union, yet. We are working on that. Please understand that facts before you give your much respected opinion. Understand that we are men and women who risk our lives and are always in harms way. We are unrestrained in the back of moving ambulances, we are working on people who have be in traumas or are having a medical emergency and could possible have HIV, Hep C, TB or many other conditions that could be contracted by one of us. We have families and don't want to take that home to them. The average EMT basic makes 8 bucks an hour, the average EMT-I, 10 bucks and paramedic".15 to 16 bucks an hour. Some make more, but in most cases, not much more. All three levels are trained to save your life. So, please think about our risks, our sacrifices that we make on a daily basis and support your non-tax based emergency workers. Call AMR and ask them to come back to the table and talk.
By StrikingParamedic

11/14/08 at 3:24 p.m.

Suggest removal

I will be starting my 9th year as a paramedic in January. An employee at In 'n' Out Burger makes about as much as I do.

I've been shot at, stabbed, punched, spit on, and had more people that I can think of curse me for trying to help them out. It's not like I show up randomly and toss people on my gurney, then cart them away to the hospital against their will. I am called. I respond. SOMEONE wanted me there. My job is to help, and once I have arrived, I have a legal responsibility to do so.

If and when this strike occurs, you will not be covered properly as the news and representatives would have you believe. The people that will be showing up will, for a large part, only have little experience in continuing care from the scene to the hospital.

If they bring in people from out of the area to drive, as they claim they will, good luck getting to the proper hospital during your critical emergency. Some Ohio guy trying to weave his way around Summerlin roundabouts at 3am with you in the back having a stroke or heart attack sounds like fun, doesn't it? Don't worry, they'll get you to the hospital sometime in the next hour or so, there's only so many multiple story buildings it could be. The freeway system and constant construction won't be a problem for someone that's never been here before either.

AMR as a company doesn't care about the people they serve, just the money that you bring in to them. They call you "customers". We, the field employees that are on the rigs busting our asses every day to save you and yours, call you "patients". AMR wants your insurance information, your money. We want to find out whether you are allergic to certain medicines, so that you don't get them accidentally and have a reaction that would make your situation worse. AMR as a company doesn't care about you. We, the EMT's and Paramedics that come to you when you call for us, do.

AMR is like a blood god that demands sacrifice. Wants more of our time without proper compensation. Tells us to work more, for the same or less than what we make now. Lies to us, changes contracts and agreements to their benefit.

As employees for them, we simply want representation by the Union that we have chosen and decided that we want to represent us. AMR refuses to accept and negotiate with this Union. This new Union will fight for the employees that are out there serving the community by actually being there in the time when you need us.

As much as we don't want to leave our community unprotected, the only thing AMR will listen to is a loss of income. Money, as always, is what it boils down to. So, when the Fire Departments are transporting the patients to the hospital and receiving the money that AMR normally would be, maybe AMR will listen to us and negotiate.

See you on the picket line.
By lasvegasmedic

11/17/08 at 10:59 p.m.

Suggest removal

Well first, we are not ambulance drivers. Many of us have associates degrees, the same as RN's. Some have bachelors degrees, the same as RN's. RN's work in perfect conditions, perfect lighting, perfect equipment, and perfect compensation. RN's start at 27-35 dollars and hour. Medics start at 15. We work in hot ambulances, transport drunks, mentally ill, and yes occasionally sick patients. We start IV's in moving ambulances with these sick patients, intubate them, can stick needles into their throat, neck, chest, and bones to perform life saving skills, all on our own. Far cry from a "driver." By the way, truck drivers for Republic Services make in excess of 24 dollars an hour.

We don't want to be rich, nor do we expect it. We do however want to be respected as a profession and make an honest dollar for it. The fire departments here may pick up some of the slack, but they don't transport patients and very few of them have the continuing care knowledge, yet they make in excess of 100 thousand a year, while we get by on 34-36,000. Safety is a word, not a concern as the almighty dollar dictates how safe we are.

And the last thing...the FLU is not a medical emergency. Thanks for sharing your ignorance. If you stop breathing, go pulseless, have chest pain, can't move, that's an emergency. Go to your family doctor for a cough with congestion or your diarrhea. Stop abusing the system.

Support those who support your community. Support the Medics and EMT's of Las Vegas.

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