What if I can’t afford to join the union?

What you really mean is what if I think everything I could do with the small amount of cost associated with the union is more important than what the union does for me. In the end we express our values and our character with our actions. The men and women who put themselves “out there” take risks on your behalf. Many of our new people only have their jobs because the union has advocated for more ambulances. Current consideration of pay parity with public safety is also a direct result of the union’s actions. The cost of being a part of the union is far less than the value of the services our members receive. The real question is how can a person of character “not afford” to be a part of the union.

What if I don’t agree with all the positions or actions of the union?

First find out if what you think is going on is actually the case. People who would like to derail the concept of a strong union often distort the union’s actions or positions for personal gain. These misguided individuals, frequently acting as anonymous cowards place there own short term interests over the long term advancement of the rank and file employees. The best way to find out what is really going on with the union is to get involved, contact the officers or come to a meeting. The officers are always willing to explain how a certain decision was made or what the reason was for a specific action. The Union officers don’t do anything anonymously we proudly sign our names and are prepared to explain ourselves knowing that not everyone will always agree with our actions. We welcome the diverse views of our membership and welcome those who would join us to improve the lives of our membership and the quality of our EMS system.

If you are a full time EMT, Paramedic or Dispatcher you can apply for membership right now! Download and print the IAFF membership application and dues deduction form. Fill them out and place them in Kevin Scardina’s Mailbox. The officer and members look forward to welcoming you into our local.

In March of this year our local voted to pursue Public Safety/Fire based blended EMS and much has been done to advocate for this system change. I have been asked just what it is we have been advancing and how would it affect each of us. First I wish to share with you the underlying principals that we have followed in our discussions. First we want to do what is right for the patients/citizens we serve. This means an adequate number of ambulances and ALS response units staffed by the best personnel with strong medical control. This also means low turnover and good moral. The second principal is doing what is right for the members of the Paramedic Division. One of the things this means is that we believe that our personnel deserve the same pay, benefits, pensions, Job security and advancement opportunities, as the firefighters and police officers we risk our lives next to each day. The third principal we have used is that we should do what is right for Denver Health. This doesn’t mean doing what the current administration at Denver Health thinks is the right thing but rather insuring that changes take into consideration how they will affect the hospital long term. This doesn’t mean that the senior administration at Denver Health should not be held fully accountable for their past operation of the division.

Although a detailed plan is in the process of being developed there are some things that we have discussed being included. One possible option calls for 14-18 dual paramedic ambulances 24/7 stationed in fire stations. In addition 6-8 dual paramedic ambulances working 20 hours per day (2 -10 hour shifts) staffing the core of the city and backfilling other units as needed. These 10 hour cars would have access to all DFD stations. Initially EMS command staff stays pretty much the same and everyone is moved to the new system that wants to go. Career Service personnel could remain Career Service with pay parity for the remainder of their careers. Cross-training of those who wish to do so would begin shortly after implementation of the new system. Cross-trained Firefighter/Paramedics could be assigned to Paramedic Engines and the number of ALS ambulances adjusted to ensure optimal responses. Cross-trained Firefighter/Paramedics could also be assigned to special units such as heavy rescue and Haz-Mat. Individuals would need to meet physical ability requirements and pass a medical exam to cross-train. No one would be required to cross-train either as paramedics or as firefighters. There is more than enough EMS work for those paramedics who only want to work in EMS and the new system values paramedics in the same way it values firefighters. We have proposed that the medical director be elevated to the status of “Physician Chief”. This new position would have control over all public safety medical care issues with the same authority as the Police and Fire Chief have over Police or Fire issues. This would mean the strongest medical control authority of any public safety based system in the country.

I have also been asked about non-paramedic personnel. Our local will work to protect and transition the positions of all non-paramedic personnel including dispatchers, basic EMTs and education personnel that are members of our local.

When we began this process it was our hope to work with the administration at Denver Health to do what is right for the patients we serve. I have met with our chief and Medical Director on several occasions and this has been beneficial to all concerned. Dr Gabow has been asked to meet six times and has not been willing to meet. Stephanie Thomas and I met on one occasion and I was told by her that things were great with Denver’s EMS. After this meeting it became clear that changes would have to originate from outside the current administration at Denver Health. We have met with City Council members, The Denver Firefighters union, the mayor’s staff as well as the Fire Chief about possible options for Denver’s EMS. All of these individuals share our concern for doing what is right for the citizens of Denver. We remain open to working with Denver Health to develop a new system.

Another issue of note is media attention. As most of you know Denver’s EMS system has been under investigation for several months by The Auditors office and Member of City Council. In addition to this numerous stories have been reported in the media. I have said that “I will talk to anyone in the media or city government who wants to talk to me about Denver’s EMS” and “I only have one story, The truth.”. I have followed these guidelines in speaking with the media. I have been asked if I initiated any of the stories that have appeared about Denver’s EMS. I personally did not initiate any of the stories but was willing to make sure that the truth was available to the media. When Dr Gabow wrote us the letter stating that it must be hard to do our jobs when the quality of our work was being questioned I reviewed all the stories in the media. I could not find one story that criticized the quality of care delivered by the dedicated men and women of our division. Perhaps Dr Gabow confused the overwhelming criticisms of the senior management at Denver Health for criticism of division personnel.

For the time being everyone’s attention is focused on the upcoming DNC. After the DNC our plan is to continue working toward our goal of improving Denver’s EMS. I encourage all eligible employees to join our local and all members to encourage them to join. The greater the membership of our local the stronger our voice.