Where do I Start

[EMS_MEDIC]

[color=darkblue:4cf5b253cc][/color:4cf5b253cc][size=18:4cf5b253cc][/size:4cf5b253cc][b:4cf5b253cc] I would like to know how EMS should go about unionizing in Texas... I have been a medic for 13 years now and I have seen EMS continually be the red headed step child of the medical profession. We are used and abused by our employers with no recourse and no back up, and it is we past time for us to band together and stop the torture; just to make a living we are forced to work 72 or more hours a week on 24 hour shifts or longer. How comfortable would you being knowing that the paramedic who is flying towards your loved one at 90 mph has been up for 23 hours straight and can barely see out their eyes? We deal with the stress and fatigue of general lilfe by ignoring it and using way too much caffeine and nicotine just to stay awake and keep working. I think that if we were to unionize we might be able to get better pay hours and maybe some regulation that might protect not only the public, but us as medics. No one wants to talk about this because they dont' want to have to face the truth, its well past time that EMS gets its wake up call in Texas... Police and Fire have their union...Doesn't EMS deserve protection of Union to?[/b:4cf5b253cc]

[OrganizingAdvocate]

Hi EMS_MEDIC,

I hear what you're saying and I agree, you and your coworkers could absolutely benefit from collective bargaining. Please refer to the Service Employees International Union (www.SEIU.org) as they have a strong presence in the medical profession. Please feel free to respond here in regards to your impression after speaking with them or for other options.

Fraternally,

Dustin
OrganizingAdvocate


[quote:d98ba4cb8f="EMS_MEDIC"][color=darkblue:d98ba4cb8f][/color:d98ba4cb8f][size=18:d98ba4cb8f][/size:d98ba4cb8f][b:d98ba4cb8f] I would like to know how EMS should go about unionizing in Texas... I have been a medic for 13 years now and I have seen EMS continually be the red headed step child of the medical profession. We are used and abused by our employers with no recourse and no back up, and it is we past time for us to band together and stop the torture; just to make a living we are forced to work 72 or more hours a week on 24 hour shifts or longer. How comfortable would you being knowing that the paramedic who is flying towards your loved one at 90 mph has been up for 23 hours straight and can barely see out their eyes? We deal with the stress and fatigue of general lilfe by ignoring it and using way too much caffeine and nicotine just to stay awake and keep working. I think that if we were to unionize we might be able to get better pay hours and maybe some regulation that might protect not only the public, but us as medics. No one wants to talk about this because they dont' want to have to face the truth, its well past time that EMS gets its wake up call in Texas... Police and Fire have their union...Doesn't EMS deserve protection of Union to?[/b:d98ba4cb8f][/quote:d98ba4cb8f]

[EMS_MEDIC]

Thank you for the thread, and I will definately speak with them. As it stands this co. that we work for now appears to b e circling the drain. Our hours have been cut to no more than 44, and our 24 hour shifts have been cut altogether. Thats how most of us make our money, by compliling alot of hours at 2 or 3 jobs to make ends meet. Doesn't bode well when we started out with 9 trucks 3 months ago and now we are down to 4... Oh well, there are always plenty of other sleezy companies to work for in this area. And the job hunt continues. lol. Again Thanks for your advice and I will let ya know how it goes.

[OrganizingAdvocate]

Any new developements on this issue, EMS_MEDIC?