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.