Why SEIU 1199 Wants To Keep It's "Ambulance Drivers"

Kind of shocking, it was recently revealed by political watchdog Center For Responsive Politics that SEIU is one of the top 10 organizations in the giving of political donations. SEIU has given $25,931,093.00 to political candidates.

That's right, 26 MILLION dollars of members hard earned dues money given away. SEIU claims that they have 1,900,000 members.

So doing the math, SEIU has given $13.65 per member to politicians and political parties.

SEIU desperately wants you to vote for them. Wonder why? You are a revenue source for them at a time when they are DESPERATELY in need of your hard earned money. They need to give it to politicians, because they are trying to buy influence.

How much influence has SEIU had in the 7 years they have been in Hartford? Has EMS Legislation been passed? Has there been Federal or State legislation sponsored by SEIU? Has SEIU even addressed EMS related issues beyond your bargaining unit?

SEIU is a fundraising machine for politicians... they want you to be an unwitting dupe who continues to let them take money from you to fund their political ambitions... ambitions that have NOTHING to do with EMS.

Vote NEMSA.... Don't Let SEIU Steal Any More Of Your Money For It's Political Games.

A NEMSA Shop For Hartford

1199 is working overtime trying to convince you to ignore the clear evidence that NEMSA works. They want you to trust them while they tell you non-sensical things about NEMSA and they hope you will believe them...  Maybe they are just wearing blinders..

1199 claims that in a NEMSA shop, delegates carry all the workload. 1199 claims that NEMSA Labor Relations Representatives and staff just don't get involved.

Another 1199 Lie! What will they say next? Vote NEMSA And Your Toilet Won't Flush?

NEMSA works from the ground up and is run by it's members. But the idea that trained professional staff don't play a major role in representing you is simply absurd.

In a NEMSA shop, generally there is a ratio of 1 steward for every 10 members. This allows the employees to closely and carefully watch AMR. Most workplace problems and issues can be solved with early recognition and rapid response. This also allows NEMSA to be pro-active in addressing problems at the onset rather than after a problem has escalated into a much larger problem.

Shop Stewards are NEMSA delegates and undergo professional delegate training free of charge. From amongst the delegates a lead or chief delegate is selected. The Chief Delegate and delegates work with NEMSA staff and attorneys to aggressively enforce the contract and labor law.

NEMSA provides Labor Relations Representatives to serve it's bargaining units. These are professionals in Labor Law, organizing, contract enforcement, etc... These are paid staff who work for YOU.

In a NEMSA shop, you are eligible to run for any office, locally or nationally and to vote in national elections. NEMSA members nationwide elect members of the NEMSA Board Of Directors.

From The Bottom Up, NEMSA relies on the strength of it's members. Members are what make it successful.

NEMSA simply works... Join us and see NEMSA work for YOU.

Another Way NEMSA Is Different: Politics

One of the ways that NEMSA is different than other labor unions is how we address politics. Teamsters, IAEP, SEIU, and others act as political fundraisers and support centers for national politicians, generally even if the members don't agree or wish to support a different candidate.

This political fundraising and support scheme actually undermines the purposes unions were created for... to help workers better their lives by collectively bargaining with employers to provide a contract that guarantees wages, benefits, and working conditions for employees.

Now this is not to say that having political influence is not important. Rather it is to put into perspective how the "big tent" unions have abandoned their primary mission to represent workers in favor of playing politics.

NEMSA is a different kind of union. We for instance will NOT endorse any of the following candidates for President. Why? Because we don't play political games. Who you vote for is your business and NEMSA will not tell you how to think....

Presidential Candidate Senator John McCain
Presidential Candidate Senator Hillary Clinton
Presidential Candidate Senator Barack Obama

NEMSA does not give hardworking members dues money to politicians. NEMSA has political clout, but we get it from a different source. Rather than taking dues money and giving it to politicians like the "big tent" unions, we get involved in the community. We draw a distinction between your employer and you. As a NEMSA member, you will no longer be an AMR EMT or Paramedic. You will be a NEMSA EMT or Paramedic working at AMR.

Community involvement is a great part of NEMSA. Sponsoring Little League Teams, doing CPR classes, school supply drives, food drives, charity events. All of these types of things show your community how important you are and what special people you are.

When contracts are negotiated and AMR is getting calls from Mayors and Governors, community leaders and business owners because members of your community (some very influential) have called them, it puts additional pressure on AMR to negotiate a good contract for you.

The perfect example of this is at NEMSA Northeast. This NEMSA unit works at AMR and covers towns and communities in Mass, Maine, and New Hampshire. AMR had offered them an overall 1% pay cut during negotiations. Outraged community members, Mayors, City Councils, and Governors all got involved contacting AMR and politicians.

Senator Ted Kennedy Letter To AMR
Even US Senator Ted Kennedy got involved sending AMR a letter demanding the fair treatment of NEMSA members and a quick end to the labor dispute. After receiving complaints and concerns from the communities he represents and being contacted by NEMSA, he wrote this letter. The dispute did end quickly, with AMR offering an approximate 14% pay increase. Members ratified the contract and thanked the communities that supported them.

That's how NEMSA works. Vote for who you want this election, or any election.

NEMSA works because of our members. Community involvement is a powerful tool for bettering the lives of EMS workers.

NEMSA Wins In Montana!

EMS Professionals in Great Falls Montana voted yesterday to join NEMSA!  These EMS Pro's work for Great Falls Emergency Services and previously were non-union.

Great Falls Emergency Services pulled out all the stops in the campaign, hiring a union consultant at several hundred dollars an hour, doing mandatory private meetings with employees, even visiting some employees at home trying to convince them that staying with No Union / No Rights was the best thing for them.

Great Falls EMS Professionals knew better.  They voted in NEMSA because they saw our proven track record of results.... results in contract negotiations, results in superior representation.  

The NEMSA train continues to pick up steam as EMS Professionals from around the USA get on board.  All EMS.  100% EMS.  We understand EMS because we are EMS.

What about you Hartford, will you get on board?

It's not about what you say, It's about what you do!

SEIU 1199 is great at talking. They tell you to vote a certain way, act a certain way, be a certain way. They take large amounts of your hard earned money in dues to try to tell other people to vote a certain way, act a certain way, be a certain way.

But beyond that, what does SEIU actually say? And what do they do? What is their reputation?

Do they understand EMS? Do they know what it feels like to run 11 back to back calls without a restroom or meal break, being perpetually behind on paperwork? Do they understand what 16 hours inside a vehicle does to the human body? Can they appreciate the desire to simultaneously run and protect your patient at the same time?

So if they don't understand, how do they represent you?

You see, at NEMSA it's not about what we say... it's about what we do.... Our reputation is based on it.

We have superior EMS contracts and the absolute best representation of EMS workers in the USA. It's because we are 100% EMS. So unlike SEIU, when we have influence in a community it's not based on how much of your dues money we have spent buying politicians. It's because we fight the good fight, understand EMS and can help others to understand EMS as well.

About a year ago, NEMSA members at AMR NE walked up to the strike line. It was terrifying for the members but they knew that their communities were behind them, that NEMSA was supporting them, and so they stood at the edge, ready to strike.

Communities cried out, influential community members got involved, politicians and Fire Unions got involved. Why? Because NEMSA did not try to buy them but instead worked WITH them. NEMSA had the support of US Senator Ted Kennedy who told AMR to get back to the bargaining table. The International Association of Fire Fighters worked hand in hand with NEMSA to provide communities alternatives should a strike be necessary...

The result? AMR's last offer of a 1% pay cut turned into a 14-18% pay increase and a strike was avoided.

The communities supported NEMSA members, who were active in those communities and part of those communities.

It's not about what you say... It's about what you do...

NEMSA simply gets it done!

NEMSA Members In Northern California Currently Voting On Tentative Agreement

Here is a copy of the official Bargaining Team Statement. This was written by the Northern California Bargaining Team after the tentative agreement was reached.

 The Northern California Bargaining Unit is the largest EMS bargaining unit in the country and has about 2500 people in it. These NEMSA members are employed by AMR and cover Northern and Central California. The bargaining unit is very united and stood with the bargaining team throughout negotiations. AMR management saw a nearly completely united workforce speak with one voice about what they wanted.

EVERY CONTRACT IS UNIQUE. EVERY NEGOTIATION IS DIFFERENT. NO TWO ARE ALIKE. THIS POST IS TO SHOW YOU WHAT NEMSA CAN DO!

Negotiations and contracts are business deals, nothing more, nothing less. So the business deal worked out with AMR in this contract includes:

4% cost of living adjustment Year 1

4.5% cost of living adjustment Year 2

4.0% cost of living adjustment Year 3

Seniority step increases of an average of 4% per step. This means that as a person gains another year of seniority, they get another step increase.

How Step Increases and COLA work together:  A step increase and a COLA is like getting two raises per year.  On the anniversary date of the contract you get a cost of living adjustment.  On your anniversary (date of hire) you get another pay increase to reward your years of seniority.

Healthcare Premium Share of 90% Employer, 10% Employee

$500 per person (including family and dependents) in preventative healthcare per year free of charge!

A $1000 FSA debit card per employee in year 1 of the contract, $750 in years 2 and 3.

Family and Dependent Coverage goes to 85/15 almost immediately and 90/10 in the following year.

Vacation tops out at 6 weeks per year.

401K match $1 employee, $1 Employer up to 5%

A uniform cleaning allowance of $13 per paycheck given to employee...

and much much much more!

Northern California EMS Professionals and NEMSA members wanted to share with you what they have accomplished. Your bargaining unit may be smaller but don't let size fool you. NEMSA knows EMS because NEMSA is made up of EMS Professionals. Standing together can make a difference!

Hartford EMS Professionals deserve a union that can lift them up as professionals and has a proven track record. NEMSA is that union. Vote NEMSA!

Welcome!

Welcome to a blog set up especially for Hartford Area EMS Professionals. Your co-workers after tiring of substandard representation by SEIU 1199 went out and looked for options. They found NEMSA.

NEMSA is proud to represent the EMS Professionals in the Greater Hartford area. The NLRB election to elect NEMSA as your bargaining unit representative is June 13, 2008.

Check back frequently to this Blog as we will address workplace issues and update information on this blog. Don't forget to check out a website specifically for Hartford CT EMS workers at www.NEMSAHARTFORD.com.