PAX Centurion - September / October 2015

www.bppa.org PAX CENTURION • September/October 2015 • Page 47 Boston EMS Corner: Ed McCarthy I hear this a lot. Usually from a disgruntled person who didn’t get their way when they had an issue that needed resolving. I also hear it from people who got disciplined for something, and now feel that the union didn’t do enough to help or protect them. Others don’t like some of the language in the contract, and are looking for someone to blame. Still others have their own ‘pet reasons’. In an ironic twist, none of these people ever participate in the BPPA/EMS, or show up at a Union meeting. But what exactly are these people talking about anyways?What is ‘The Union’? Well, the simple answer is: The Union is us. The structure of the BPPA/ EMS Division is tiered, much like our BLS/ALS response model. Everyone in the bargaining unit, from Field and Operations EMTs, Paramedics, Lieutenants and Cap- tains, and on up to people up in training, and a few brave souls in the office tell their elected representatives what they want done, and what they want addressed. These representatives in turn attend monthly House of Reps meet- ings, with the Executive Board in attendance. The Reps bring the concerns of the membership to the room, and the E-Board for open discussion. There are some really good productive discussions. There are also arguments and fights. Sometimes it can be quite entertain- ing. No one gets ‘shushed’. Ever. I hear that complaint a lot too. In years of meetings, I’ve never seen it happen. Even when a member is bringing something truly bizarre to the floor, he or she is heard out, and believe me, there have been some doozies. Matters that are discussed in these meetings, and any solutions, remedies, clarifications or fixes decided upon are then carried by the House of Reps members back to their constituents. Similarly, the Executive Board moves to put into motion direction given to it by the membership via the House of Reps. It is the wants and needs of the membership, communicated by the House of Reps that drives the Executive Board. Without direction from the membership, via the House of Reps, the Executive Board does nothing. It sits idle and takes no action. Just from the last meet- ing alone, the E-Board is actively: 1. sticking up for several members in the discipline arena. 2. engaged in financial discussions with the BPPA. 3, Ironing out how theAEMT program will be implemented. 4. making sure no one gets screwed with health insurance rate hikes. 5. Making sure we get some decent new ambulances to work in, and our voices are heard in their design. “The Union sucks!” 6. Making sure the upcoming Union elections are fair, and con- ducted transparently. 7. Making sure members understand the intricacies of MOT, and other contract stipulations. 8. implementing a myriad of other smaller issues, and motions brought up in the meeting. In addition to this, AND every- thing that has come before in past meetings, the E-Board feels that there are some important issues on the National and State level that they can influence to help make working conditions, and stan- dards better not only for us, but for all EMTs everywhere. They have taken the initiative to fight for some positive changes in our profession, additional benefits for all of us, and greater job security, safety, recognition, and retirement, just to name a few. The House of Reps has green-lighted all of these efforts. None of this is unique to the members who currently sit in the positions of the Union Executive Board. Some of this stuff has been going on for a long time. E-Boards of years-gone-by have done the same, fighting for the betterment of the membership. One only has to look at past contracts to realize how hard fought some of our working conditions and benefits are. The Union is the only reason some of us are here at all. “Unity and Strength” isn’t just a catchy slogan. I have heard some folks say that they feel the E-board spends too much time in D.C., and not enough time working on how to make things better day-to-day right here in Boston. Indeed, EMTs and paramedics feel beleaguered with a crushing call load, a roster that looks like Swiss cheese, and an at- trition rate that threatens to eclipse academy class sizes. The fix for this is a simple one: Tell them to stop. The Executive Board has said it several times during multiple meetings. They feel that some of this National and State level stuff is really, really important. However, if the membership does not want them to pursue an issue, tell them. They’ll stop. They’ll tell you why it’d be abysmally stupid to abandon some of these issues and concerns, but ultimately, they are beholden to the membership. It was the membership that elected them to those positions in the first place. They’ve said it repeatedly. As a group. tell them. Tell your Rep. They’ll stop. So, the next time a co-worker is bellyaching about how much the ‘Union sucks’, hand him or her a mirror, and have them ask the first person they see why it sucks, or better yet, ask who can get involved in changing it, or even better, supporting it, regardless of who is in the drivers’ seat. Then slap them. Tell them I said it was okay. The structure of the BPPA/EMS Division is tiered, much like our BLS/ALS response model. Everyone in the bargaining unit, from Field and Operations EMTs, Paramedics, Lieutenants and Captains, and on up to people up in training, and a few brave souls in the office tell their elected representatives what they want done, and what they want addressed. So, the next time a co-worker is bellyaching about how much the ‘Union sucks’, hand him or her a mirror, and have them ask the first person they see why it sucks, or better yet, ask who can get involved in changing it, or even better, supporting it, regardless of who is in the drivers’ seat. Then slap them. Tell them I said it was okay.