On December 15, the employees at Salud Medical Transport in Philadelphia voted overwhelmingly to join Local 463 in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania. Only one of the 12 emergency medical technicians (EMTs) eligible to vote at Salud voted against union representation.

Local 463 already represents 45 EMTs and paramedics at Keystone Quality Transport, where a first contract was settled a year ago. Local 463 filed an NLRB petition last week for 25 para-transit drivers at Keystone.

“They are shipping manufacturing jobs to China, but they can’t ship these jobs overseas,” said Bob Ryder, Local 463 Secretary-Treasurer.

“These workers care for the sick in our community,” said Jim Gallagher, the organizer on the campaigns. “These workers treat their patients with dignity and respect. They deserve the same from the employers. They should be treated like the professionals they are.”

Negotiations for a first contract at Salud will begin shortly.