Tuesday, February 8, 2011

** New South Wales ECPs consider strike over salary plunge

** Connecticut ambulance company agrees to settle labor relations case involving paramedic

AUSTRALIA NEWS

** Extended Care Paramedics (ECPs) in New South Wales are contemplating strike. That is the word from 9 News (February 8) which said a decision on industrial action could come by March. According to the news station, ECPs are dismayed over a salary slash of 35 per cent. The dip came as the ECP position went from a trial slot to a permanent one. While participating in the pilot, ECPs earned a temporary set salary of $105,000 (9 News/January 9). By December, permanent ECPs were slated for earning only $68,000 plus shift allowances. An appeal to the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) also failed to change matters. A spokesman for the Emergency Medical Services Protection Association (EMSPA) said his organization has written to IRC Justice Conrad Stuff to reconsider his position. Fifty-seven practitioners are ECPs.

UNITED STATES NEWS

** American Medical Response of Connecticut Inc. has agreed to settle in a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) case involving a paramedic being fired for writing EMS critiques on Facebook. Bloomberg News (Stephanie Armour/February 7) said the company’s decision to retreat from fighting Dawnmarie Souza’s allegations of wrongful dismissal came yesterday. According to the news service, AMR agreed not to improperly restrict employees from discussing work related issues when not on the job. It also agreed not to discipline or fire staff who do banter on matters like wages, working conditions, and work hours. Union representation will also not be denied for employees battling under such circumstances. The settlement comes after Souza filed her complaint on October 27 of last year, claiming she had been illegally terminated and denied representation after she wrote negative Facebook reviews about a supervisor. A hearing set for January 25 had been postponed.