There are many rumors circulating through the Detroit EMS ranks this week. We have received a number of calls about the IAFF taking over EMS and eliminating the union. Here are the facts as they exist: The EM met with the public safety unions to ask for help restructuring from the ground up, as it was recognized there was significant management issues. Our union went to work immediately, working with the restructuring group to craft a restructuring plan. Within a month of meeting, our union had submitted, and met with the restructuring group and delivered a viable, well received plan. This plan was prepared and ready to implement in August; with the first benchmark to be obtained by Jan 1, 2013. This plan provided 40 response units and came in well under budget, while realizing new untapped revenue streams. To date, the fire union has not delivered a plan. There was a restructuring meeting this past week. It can only be categorized as misinformation, as the city said that they have done a good job nearly meeting NFPA standard 1710 for EMS response. Of course the city is no where near meeting that standard. The city also shared data that suggested that the fire numbers will continue to decline. The restructuring firm recognized the revenue generated by EMS, and the loss of revenue due to the heavy use of private EMS units. The parties disagreed, and were antagonistic without much purposeful forward movement. The EMS plan was moving forward and was well received until it was presented to the fire administration. Since that presentation, the administration and the union have made every effort to thwart EMS moving forward with their plan.... Remember, fire has yet to produce a plan. The rumors circulating about the IAFF wanting to take over EMS and eliminating your union is true. Their President sought out the POAM DEMS union leader last week and offered up an IAFF local to lead our members to the IAFF. It was pitched as we are equals, which we all know is not the case here. The Administration also discussed the Fire/EMS being in one union and POAM being removed. It was discussed that having firemen crossed trained would improve bargaining (for who? not medics) and we could eat with the firemen. This past weekend we had members approached and asked to de-certify. One firefighter suggested that us medics could now work 24 hour shifts and eat with them. Running 24 hours straight non-stop sounds wonderful.... sign me up. It was suggested that the plan and strategy, is to divide and conquer our membership by getting to all the new guys. It was suggested they all want to be firemen any ways. People still have to get transported. Who do you think will be driving these citizens to the hospital? This has been nothing but a broken management group working with an uncooperative union to stop the progress Detroit EMS has made this past year. Medical work will be the predominate work of the fire department and the fire service will continue to decline. This is about protecting fire houses, firemen, and budget, while controlling the medics. The rumors about the State of Michigan wanting DFD to take over DEMS is just that. We have maintained an open dialogue with all parties associated with this. EMS has been broken for decades, and citizens have been held hostage by the likes of the Fire Division and Union. We will remain in the fight and will not sell our members out. Frank Guido POAM General Counsel has drafted paperwork and sent it out to the EMS office/Department, placing them on notice of our intentions to purse an Unfair Labor Practice.
Posted on: Tue, 15 Oct 2013 01:39:39 +0000
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