decertifying/deauthorizing our current union and seeking new

[medicbluto]

Hello,

I am a paramedic from Altoona, PA working for a third service/municipality non-profit organization. We handle approximately 12,000 emergency ambulance calls per year with five staffed ALS ambulances. I and many others feel that the union currently representing my organization has developed more of a relationship with management than it has with its dues paying union members. Our local union representative regularly golf’s, has cocktails at our local country club, and holds private meetings with our executive manager on a weekly basis. The last time the union members had a meeting with our local representative was approximately 18 months ago. Can you see the problem here?

We are a bunch of paramedics that save lives for a living and know little about unions. We have heard stories about decertifying/deauthorizing our current union and seeking another union to properly represent our organization. However, none of us actually know the truth. We have heard that in doing such, our members would be unprotected for at least a year and that our management would be very uncooperative with bringing in a new union.

Can you please direct me in the right direction to get the proper information I need to take back to my fellow union brothers. We have a very frail unity now and I know that the first step we need to take to strengthen our unity is to get a new union; to back us the way I have heard of other unions doing for their members. Anything you could provide to me would be helpful and greatly appreciated.

Fraternally,

Donald E. Edelblute
Altoona, PA

[mamarad1955]

It really troubles me when members are disastified with their "union". The union is the membership. What I advise members first and foremost is to get a copy of the Contract/Agreement between the Union and the company. Read, read, read. Know what's in your contract.
Secondly, if things don't seem to be happening the way they should (and a lot of it is really just common sense), then contact your local union representative and express your concerns. If you get no satisfaction there, the contact the President of the local union. These folks work for us; not the other way around.
As dues paying members, we have a responsibility to make sure that the staff and officers work for us. While there are many things that need to be done at the organizational level, there are more detailed things that need to be taken care of at the membership level.
Get involved, ask questions, and follow-up. Get informed about what's in your contract, read, read, read. If no satisfaction from the staff and officers, then go to the next higher level. Most importantly, keep notes of who you talked to, when you talked to them, and their response.
Just as with management, when you do your homework to address a situation, it's hard to be ignored.
Decertification is a tedious process. Get the facts first and follow up. Decertification should be the last resort.
Just to let you know, I'm a member, not a staff person. But I make my union organization work for our membership.
Good luck and let us know how you come out.

[OrganizingAdvocate]

Great advice Mamarad1955, I don't think I could have said it any better!

medicbluto,

If the membership is still interested in new representation after working through the process described above, there are other Labor Organizations which represent workers in the medical field, and specifically EMTs such as yourself and fellow coworkers; Some are the:

International Association of EMTs and Paramedics/ Service Employees International Union , http://www.iaep.org

and

National Emergency Medical Services Association, http://www.nemsausa.org

The National Labor Relations Board is able to discuss with you, in depth, the decertification/ certification process; in short, if at least 50% plus one of the membership signs deauthorization cards for your current Union and at least 50% plus one sign certification cards for a new Union (and vote accordingly), the membership may elect a new Union without having any period without representation. However, if a majority of the membership votes out the current Union and does not vote in a new Union at the same time, yes, the membership will be without a Union for MINIMUM period of ONE (1) YEAR!

Please consider posting about your experience in our site feature, http://www.myunionspace.com. Thank you for the opportuntity to address your question. If we may be of further assistance in regards to this, or another issue, please contact us again.

Fraternally,

Dustin
OrganizingAdvocate
Unions.org