United EMS Workers-AFSCME LOCAL 4911 Questions and Answers

What is United EMS Workers-AFSCME Local 4911? United EMS Workers, Local 4911 affiliate of AFSCME, AFL-CIO, is a union organized by and made up of 100% private sector EMS workers. Its mission is to protect emergency medical services for the public, retain democracy for the membership, provide a voice for the members, advocate member participation, and of course to negotiate and win contracts that protect working conditions for its membership. How do I contact United EMS Workers-AFSCME Local 4911? Email: info@uemsw.org United EMS Workers-AFSCME Local 4911 New England 8 Beacon Street, 5th Floor Boston, MA 02108 (617) 367-3686, Ext. 17 What is the Interim Board? The Interim Board is a dedicated group of Chief Shop Stewards and other Activist Leaders that have come together to organize United EMS Workers and help EMS workers take back our union. An officers election will take place in which our members will vote for the permanent officers of the United EMS Workers. It will be up to members to decide who the next president, officers, and directors will be. What is AFSCME? AFSCME is the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees. It was started in 1932 in Wisconsin to represent state employees during the Depression. Since that time, AFSCME has grown in size and diversity. It currently represents 1.6 million members nationwide in private and public services. AFSCME is affiliated with the AFL-CIO. AFSCME represents EMS workers in both the public and private sectors. Who does AFSCME represent? AFSCME represents a wide range of public service employees across the country 1.6 million Americans in all including EMTs, paramedics, nurses, law enforcement officers, teachers, civil engineers, and many others. One of the largest EMS workforces in the United States, the 3500-member Uniformed EMTs and Paramedics of the FDNY, Local 2507, is represented by AFSCME. So are EMS workers around the country like those at Local 3911 in New Castle, Delaware. AFSCME represents both public and private sector workers. Why are we organizing now? We need to protect and improve EMS for the public and negotiate strong contracts that protect members working conditions. EMS workers around the country are coming together as United EMS Workers-AFSCME Local 4911 because now is the time for a strong EMS voice with democracy and accountability. While NEMSA grew in members, the quality of representation has gone down; at every negotiation, our contract is getting leaner; our stewards are left to fend for themselves with no training and support. Its time we take back our union. Under the NLRA, we are allowed to certify another union as our bargaining representative once our current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) expires. Our contract expires at the end of the year, and this is the legal opportunity to organize. We need to show our employer that we are united, and we will do that with the power of AFSCME under our own EMS local. What are these cards Im being asked to sign? The cards you may have seen are a statement of intent to form a new union. It allows the government to hold an election in order for members to choose, A) Remaining with NEMSA. B) Joining United EMS Workers or, C) No union at all. Once a sufficient number of cards are collected, we can petition the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for the right to be represented by United EMS Workers. The cards will be sent to the NLRB for verification. No other concerned parties are informed of the card signers identity, choice or intent. All of your information on that card is private. It remains protected in the hands of the NRLB and the United EMS Workers. This is the identical process workers used when leaving IAEP or SEIU to start NEMSA.

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Will current contract/transition negotiations be in jeopardy? Just like before when workers transitioned from IAEP or SEIU, the terms and conditions of the agreement will remain in place. Employers have to abide by it and bargain in good faith with us to reach an agreement. The more support we show in the field and at the bargaining table for our union, the better the contract and the faster we will get it. Additionally, United EMS Workers will have access to AFSCMEs collective bargaining department staffed with researchers, economists, negotiators, and lawyers ready to assist our locally elected bargaining team. Will Union dues go up when I join United EMS Workers? No. United EMS Workers will maintain the same monthly dues structure of twice the average hourly wage for the bargaining unit ($37.05) with a minimum of $35 per month. Does AFSCME represent private sector workers? Yes. AFSCME represents workers across the spectrum all over the country including private and public sector EMS workers. AFSCME locals protect and fight for their members. ANY position on private/public issues that directly affect our local is decided at the local level. For example, UEMSO/FDNY Local 3621 AFSCME takes a position for the accommodation of its membership that chose to work at private EMS agencies. Each Local is guided by their particular constitution that is drafted and amended by the vote of the respective membership. As a private sector EMS local providing public services, we will protect the jobs of our members and work with our employer to prevent union jobs from going to non union competitors. Are my dues going to be funding political parties? No. ASFCME PEOPLE is a voluntary program that members can donate private funds to support AFSCMEs Political Action agenda. It enables our union to be strong politically and helps enact legislative programs that protect our jobs. To quote AFSCME PEOPLE, Federal election law and some state laws prohibit using dues for campaign contributions and other political activities. Unions traditionally endorse politicians and issues that are sympathetic to labor/union causes, AFSCME is no different. However, each Local can amend or submit clauses in their respective constitutions providing guidance on how best to approach political agendas be it a particular position, or no position to be taken as submitted to and voted on by the membership. United EMS Workers will be no different. Furthermore, for any political or ideological expenditure that is not prohibited by law, the AFSCME constitution (Article IX, Sec 14) provides a process for members who object to those kinds of expenditures to be sent rebates. What does AFSCME do to combat corruption? AFSCME International has honest leadership that has served in office for many years without incident. AFSCME International, however, has at times discovered and disclosed corruption in only a few of its 3700 Locals. Such improper acts, when discovered, have been dealt with promptly by AFSCME. Any offending officials were reported to the USDOL for investigation and subsequent prosecution. Robust oversight of union activities and leaders occurs on multiple levels within AFSCME, from the executive board at the local level on up. United EMS Workers will be no different with oversight provided by guidance from the International AND Local Constitutions. If corruption is found in AFSCME, the internal judicial process takes over and can lead to indictment, and arrest. What kind of voice will I have in United EMS Workers? When we vote to join United EMS Workers, the New England area will elect two directors from among the local membership who will have full voting power on the Board of Directors including voting power on financial and representational matters of United EMS Workers. In addition, within 30 days from certification, the Bylaws of United EMS Workers requires that the new bargaining unit elect new stewards and bargaining team members.

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