Campaign Fatigue...

It's called the "Dog Days" of a campaign.  Exhausted, candidates rally trying to catch every undecided voter and respond to opponents...

At NEMSA, we don't feel campaign fatigue.. rather we feel excitement.  EMS Professionals around the USA are supporting you Greater Hartford...  We are excited at the opportunity to represent you.

All that is left is to vote....  And that happens on Friday....

For anyone undecided who is reading this, rather than talking in campaign mode, here are just a few simple questions...

• Who understands EMS workers better, 1199 or NEMSA?
• Who has had more success with AMR at the negotiating table, 1199 or NEMSA?
• Who has the best EMS contracts in the USA, 1199 or NEMSA

Voting on Friday.....  See you there!

1199: Afraid To Debate NEMSA!

The debate has been talked about for weeks.  NEMSA rented the hall and sent SEIU 1199 a certified mail official debate challenge...  NEMSA wanted a debate, to allow undecided voters to hear both sides of the story...  

First 1199 claimed that they hadn't received the challenge... then they claimed that they received it late at night...  Then they just declined to debate NEMSA...

Funny thing... if you go to www.NEMSAHARTFORD.com you will find the information including the USPS tracking number.  1199 received the debate challenge on 6/9/08 at 11:11 am.  They signed for it.  They thought about it...  They ran away.

They are afraid to debate NEMSA.  We have nothing to hide.. We wanted undecided voters to have one last chance to hear both sides, under clear and fair rules...  with a neutral moderator.

What does 1199 have to hide?  Do they not have a record to stand on?  Can't they give clear reasons why people should vote for them?

So how about it 1199, you still have time.  How about a debate?

Why Settle For Second Best?

We have heard a few people ask why they should vote for NEMSA. They claim that 1199 hasn't done that bad of a job...


Good. We at NEMSA are glad that 1199 has done "OK" for some people...  

Because looking at their size, you sure don't get much of their attention... In fact, they don't even list EMS Providers on their website.   But you sure give them your cash in the form of outrageous dues.


But here is a simple question.... Can 1199 claim they won the race when they come in second, third, fourth, etc....?


NEMSA has the best EMS contracts in the country... We have come in first place in almost every race... Our contracts have things seldom found anywhere else in the USA... fair wage increases, pay steps, retro pay, protective healthcare language, high 401K employer matches, and more workplace protections than any other private EMS contract in the USA!

1199 doesn't have the experience NEMSA has in negotiating with AMR. 1199 doesn't have the contracts and history of wins that NEMSA has... 1199 for their size and resources are simply either ill equipped to negotiate with AMR or just unwilling to put in the time, research, and effort necessary to get top notch contracts.


So for those who are considering voting for 1199, NEMSA has just one question for you: Why settle for second best?

SEIU 1199 Throwing Mud!

It's an unfortunate part of human behavior... when losing a campaign, the losing side becomes desperate and begins "throwing mud."  Commonly seen in political campaigns, the mud throwing is designed so that some criticism, any criticism may "stick" to the wall.  However not knowing what will "stick", 1199 simply is throwing everything at the wall...

Mud:   NEMSA in Portland Oregon

An 18 page mailer was sent out by an individual who mysteriously gained access to the 1199 confidential mailing list about NEMSA in Oregon.  Filled full of hyperbole and half-truths, it was designed to make you think NEMSA abandoned EMS workers in Oregon.

Truth:  EMS workers in Portland/Vancouver wanted to be Teamsters.  Delegates in Portland were claiming loyalty to NEMSA while at the same time actively signature gathering to get Teamster representation.  When these delegates and workers had enough signatures,  NEMSA simply did not contest the coming Teamster campaign and instead disclaimed interest in their bargaining unit.  

Mud:  Disclaiming is rare and a sign of weakness

Disclaiming is a legal process under the NLRB that is designed when a workforce and a union wish to part ways.  Disclaiming is legal and happens more commonly than you may think.  It is an administrative procedure that seldom makes the headlines.

Truth:  SEIU disclaimed a bargaining unit in San Diego when NEMSA had gathered more than enough signatures to run a campaign against them.  SEIU and NEMSA both have used the same administrative procedure along with many other unions.

Here Is SEIU Disclaiming A Bargaining Unit

Mud:  NEMSA is structured so everyday people are forced to make decisions without training.

The structure of a union is important as it is one of the primary reasons for it's effectiveness.  Unions with poor structure are generally not successful.

Truth:  NEMSA is designed with a structure that EMPOWERS EMS workers.  Paid staff and labor attorneys support trained shop stewards.  Shop stewards also known as delegates and are the eyes and ears of any NEMSA shop.  Paid staff train and support shop stewards.  Nobody does anything alone.  NEMSA is designed as a collective and relies on the support of everyone to be successful.   Based on the superior representation NEMSA members receive and the top - notch contracts NEMSA negotiates for it's members, it is clear that NEMSA's structure breeds success.

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.