Teamster Emergency Workers Refuse Rural Metro Contract Offer

(Buffalo, N.Y.) -- Paramedics, emergency medical technicians and other first responders who handle 911 calls throughout western New York, including the City of Buffalo, have voted down a tentative agreement from their employer, Rural/Metro Medical Services.

Teamster representatives reached out to the company after yesterday’s vote to schedule continued bargaining in an effort to reach a fair and equitable contract that will improve working conditions and raise wages to the level of other emergency medical professionals in western New York. Rural/Metro Teamsters have been in contract talks with the company since May.

“The heroes at Rural/Metro who save lives every day deserve to be paid at the same level as other paramedics and EMTs in western New York,” said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa.

“We insist that Rural/Metro respect the rights of our employees and the communities they serve. No one wants an ambulance strike, and it is wrong for Rural/Metro to try to force these workers into a disruptive and dangerous labor stoppage.”

Local 375 and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters will continue to bargain and take all other steps necessary to secure a fair contract for Rural/Metro employees.

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.

Read more about the Teamsters' efforts to protect workers at Rural/Metro.

(Buffalo, N.Y.) -- Paramedics, emergency medical technicians and other first responders who handle 911 calls throughout western New York, including the City of Buffalo, have voted down a tentative agreement from their employer, Rural/Metro Medical Services.

Teamster representatives reached out to the company after yesterday’s vote to schedule continued bargaining in an effort to reach a fair and equitable contract that will improve working conditions and raise wages to the level of other emergency medical professionals in western New York. Rural/Metro Teamsters have been in contract talks with the company since May.

“The heroes at Rural/Metro who save lives every day deserve to be paid at the same level as other paramedics and EMTs in western New York,” said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa.

“We insist that Rural/Metro respect the rights of our employees and the communities they serve. No one wants an ambulance strike, and it is wrong for Rural/Metro to try to force these workers into a disruptive and dangerous labor stoppage.”

Local 375 and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters will continue to bargain and take all other steps necessary to secure a fair contract for Rural/Metro employees.

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.

Read more about the Teamsters' efforts to protect workers at Rural/Metro.