May 5, 2009 Update:

Teamsters At Rural/Metro Overwhelmingly Ratify Contracts

Teamsters represented by Local 375 in Buffalo, New York ratified two new agreements with Rural/Metro Medical Services by more than a 3-1 margin, union officials announced today.

The 400 paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) who serve the greater Buffalo area had been working without a contract since their five-year agreement expired on June 30, 2008. A one-year, retroactive agreement was negotiated to cover this time period and expires on June 30, 2009. The second agreement is for four years and takes effect July 1, 2009.

“Educating our members was the key to ratifying these agreements after the group rejected a tentative offer negotiated by a prior union administration last fall,” said Mike Wach, President of Local 375. “Now, our goal is to develop a positive working relationship with Rural Metro, so the interests of EMT’s and paramedics can be addressed on ongoing basis. These agreements should create opportunities for further workplace advances.”

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

April 16, 2009 Update:

Townline Fire Department Supports Rural/Metro Teamsters. 

March 4, 2009 Update:

There will be a meeting for ALL RURAL METRO EMPLOYEES on Sunday, March 8th at NOON at the Crosby-Brounscheidle Post, 3354 Delaware Avenue, Kenmore, NY 14223. This meeting is to update all Rural Metro members on the status of the contract negotiations.

Please make every effort to attend this important meeting.

Mike Wach

Local 375

February 3, 2009 Update:

Click here to read a message from Mike Wach, the new President of Local 375. Wach gives an update on the status of the contract talks.

December 17, 2008 Update:


Rural/Metro Workers Voice Concerns at Shareholders Meeting


The campaign to secure a fair contract with wage improvements for Rural/Metro Teamsters in Western New York went national this week. On December 16, Buffalo Teamsters attended Rural/Metro’s annual shareholder meeting in Scottsdale, AZ to directly address the company’s Board of Directors and executives, including CEO Jack Brucker. 

Members of Teamsters Local 375 made sure that the top executives running the company were made aware of their frustration with Buffalo management’s reluctance to reach a new agreement with improved wages.

“While the Board of Directors finds new ways to pay top executives, those of us on the front line working to save lives have to find new ways to put food on the table for our families,” said Sue Bull, a 16-year Rural/Metro EMT represented by Teamsters Local 375. 

Rallying outside the meeting were local Rural/Metro employees represented by Teamsters Local 104.
 

November 21, 2008 Update:

Teamsters Representatives and Rural/Metro Meet With Federal Mediator

Representatives of the Teamsters and Rural/Metro met with the federal mediator for approximately 12 hours on Wednesday, November 19. The union’s team, headed by International Brotherhood of Teamsters Vice President John Murphy, with assistance from Local 375, the Rural/Metro member bargaining team, Joint Council 46 and the IBT Public Services Division, crafted proposals for wage increases aimed at providing percentage-base and fixed dollar increases for paramedics and EMTs.

Rural/Metro responded with counter proposals which by comparison would have provided for more modest increases and would have established an hourly earning ceiling for each job class.

Teamsters submitted a written response rejecting any attempt to limit an employee’s hourly rate. Moreover, the bargaining team spent a significant amount of caucus time developing language on the effective dates for wage increases and better pay equity for paramedics, intermediates and basics.  The union also proposed retaining the original contract’s $0.50 rate for Field Training Officers.

After considering the union’s revised wage offer, Rural/Metro presented an alternative that added additional money to the employer’s initial package. Management’s late-night proposal would set minimum starting rates beginning January 2009 as follows: Basics at $10.00 per hour ; Intermediates at $10.30 per hour; and Paramedics at $13.00 per hour. Under this proposal, wage increases from 2009 to 2013 would be based on an employee’s anniversary date (i.e., the date an employee received his/her last wage change). In 2009, Basics would receive a $0.30 increase, Intermediates a $0.60 increase, and Paramedics would receive a $1.20 increase. A special adjustment would provide basics and intermediates with increases of $0.50 and $0.75 cents respectively for those employees who had earned above $8.50 per hour before the 9/29/2007 increase. From 2010 to 2013, all job classifications would receive annual increases of 3%.

The bargaining team worked diligently and tirelessly to reach an acceptable agreement; however we have not yet met this goal.  The current proposal from the company does not provide pay raises retroactive to the end of the previous contract, i.e. July 2008, nor does it provide equitable increases to employees in the three classifications. We believe that Rural/Metro has the ability and financial wherewithal to identify additional sources of funding to boost wage increases to an acceptable level.  To achieve success the union needs its members to stand in solidarity with each other and to take action as never before.  Tell management how you feel about their actions and that you will stand with your union.

Please email any comments to the Teamsters at dpihl@teamster.org, or fax comments to 202-624-6910.

 
November 18, 2008 Update:

Community and Labor Organizations Rally For Buffalo EMTs, Paramedics

Today, several Buffalo community and labor organizations joined Teamsters Local 375 at a press conference outside Buffalo City Hall to show support for Rural/Metro EMTs and paramedics.

The community and labor leaders called on Rural/Metro to offer higher wages that are commensurate with the life-saving work emergency responders perform year-round. The company and the Teamsters return to the bargaining table on Wednesday, Nov. 19.

Among those attending the news conference were Joseph Foley, President of Buffalo Professional Firefighters Local 282; Michael Hoffert, President of the Buffalo Central Labor Council; Angelo Vellake, President of the Western New York Area Labor Federation; and Allison Duwe, Executive Director of the Coalition for Economic Justice; and other members of the western New York labor community.


After the news conference, Rural/Metro employees delivered over 2,000 signed petitions and letters of support to Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown. Mayor Brown then met with several EMTs and officers from Local 375. Mayor Brown agreed to call Rural/Metro Corporation to voice his concerns about the current situation.

November 13, 2008 Update:

Send a Message to Rural/Metro and Elected Officials

• Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) and paramedics are medical professionals that protect families and communities 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Saving lives is a reward within itself, but many of these workers receive only cut-rate wages. 
• Act now and send a message to Rural/Metro that paying low wages devalues the life-saving role of first responders and makes it difficult for them to survive financially.  Your message will be sent to Rural/Metro and elected officials in New York, to tell them that Rural/Metro’s employees deserve fair compensation.

  November 7, 2008 Update:
  
  
  Sign the Petition for Community Support

• The union is kicking off a week-long effort to enlist support from the Greater Buffalo community as part of the campaign to secure fair pay and decent work standards.  Please make sufficient copies of the document after it has been downloaded, and ask your friends, family and neighbors to sign the petition.  Completed copies should be returned by November 13, 2008 to Teamsters Local 375, or faxed to the International at (202) 624-6910.  The petition can be downloaded here.

October 28, 2008 Update:



FMCS Sets Bargaining Date

• Kenneth Armes of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service has confirmed November 19, 2008 as the first day that representatives of the Teamsters and Rural Metro will return to the bargaining table. The issue of wages will be a major discussion point, as the country’s economic uncertainty continues to challenge the ability of working Americans to meet the costs of housing, food, education and energy.     
  
   

October 23, 2008 Update: 



Teamsters Meet with New York State Officials 

Bargaining Update:

• Contract negotiations are expected to resume in mid-November.  Federal Mediator Kenneth Armes will continue to assist the parties.
• General President Hoffa has appointed Eastern Region Vice President John Murphy to assist and support the local union officials and the union’s bargaining team.
•  Members employed at Rural/Metro should provide input regarding major issues that they would like to see modified from the proposed agreement. Forms will be made available at your bases and on the Teamsters’ web site to facilitate communication in this regard.

Read the current proposed agreement. It is important for you to think about the top issues that need to be changed.

Please take a moment to provide comments, suggestions, and/or contract questions to the Public Services Division via e-mail or by fax to 202-508-6456.

Read the press release that was sent out October 9, 2008. 

Download the proposed contract between Rural/Metro and the Teamsters Union.

October 15, 2008 Update: 



Federal Mediator Moves to Schedule Return to Bargaining Table 

• Read the current proposed agreement. It is important for you to think about the top issues that need to be changed.
• The Teamsters will take all necessary and lawful steps to help you secure the fair contract that you deserve.
• Please take a moment to provide comments, suggestions, and/or contract questions to the Public Services Division via e-mail or by fax to 202-508-6456.

Read the press release that was sent out October 9, 2008. 

Download the tentative contract between Rural/Metro and the Teamsters Union.

October 10, 2008 Update: 

General Membership Meeting Scheduled October 12

May 5, 2009 Update:

Teamsters at Rural/Metro Overwhelmingly Ratify Contracts

Teamsters represented by Local 375 in Buffalo, New York ratified two new agreements with Rural/Metro Medical Services by more than a 3-1 margin, union officials announced today.

The 400 paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) who serve the greater Buffalo area had been working without a contract since their five-year agreement expired on June 30, 2008. A one-year, retroactive agreement was negotiated to cover this time period and expires on June 30 2009. The second agreement is for four years and takes effect July 1, 2009.

“Educating our members was the key to ratifying these agreements after the group rejected a tentative offer negotiated by a prior union administration last fall,” said Mike Wach, President of Local 375. “Now our goal is to develop a positive working relationship with Rural Metro, so the interests of EMT’s and paramedics can be addressed on ongoing basis. These agreements should create opportunities for further workplace advances.”

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

April 16, 2009 Update: