EMS, 911 Operators Picket Over Union Conditions

POSTED: 5:21 pm EST January 26, 2012
UPDATED: 11:39 pm EST January 26, 2012

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Louisville Emergency Medical Services employees and 911 operators are working without contracts, and some of them said they're tired of it.They took their concerns to Louisville Metro Council members at City Hall Thursday night.They have been without contracts for 18 months. Workers picketed Thursday for that very reason. They said much of the language for a new contract is written. Now, it comes down to money."We don't want to have to take this to mediation, so we're asking for your support," said Lane Morrison, a Teamster with Louisville Metro EMS."We're still without a contract because Metro Government doesn't know what to do," said Todd Thomason with Teamsters Local 783.That's why Thomason said the workers took to the picket line outside Metro Hall."There's no increases, and employees are still making their runs; they're still risking their lives," said Thomason."We went to the table and asked for no more, no less than what they gave the fire department on the recent contract they signed," said EMS technician and chief union steward Art Cash.Workers want a 2 percent annual increase on wages that Thomason said other emergency services workers already get."Right now, all we're asking for is the same as police and firefighters," said Thomason.Teamsters said contract negotiations between them and the city have gone stale. They took their concerns to council members asking for help."It's been three months since our last meeting with Metro Government, and we only met seven times in 2011," one worker said at the meeting."I would just encourage the city to negotiate in good faith," said Metro Councilman David James.James said the Metro Council does not have the power to negotiate contracts, but would approve or disapprove once an agreement is reached.It's that agreement James urges city leaders to finish. "The workers we're talking about are emergency workers. They're the ones who take care of us every day. They should not be distracted with these types of things when they're trying to protect us," said James.Currently, Mayor Greg Fischer is looking for a way to cut about $23 million in overtime he said the city accumulates every year.Thomason said he's willing to talk concessions and ways to reduce spending once workers get what's owed to them.On Thursday night, a spokesman for the mayor said his office continues to work with the workers on contract negotiations and is hopeful for a resolution soon.

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