Philadelphia council joins paramedics' suit
Thursday, October 7th, 2010
Philadelphia City Council has approved a resolution to join paramedics in their fight to remain part of the firefighters union. A state labor board ruling earlier this week took paramedics out of the union.
Councilman Jim Kenney introduced the resolution which authorizes council to hire attorneys to join the paramedics' civil suit to remain firefighters and part of the union. Kenney says there is no reason to separate firefighters from paramedics.
"Paramedics are firefighter paramedics, I'm asking the state to change the the state statue to make it clear that these are firefighter paramedics. There's no reason in the world why these individuals who serve us so well should have their pension benefits cut their health benefits cut and more importantly given the right to strike."
Earlier this year, City Council passed an ordinance saying paramedics are firefighters and even over-rode the mayor's veto of the legislation. Kenney says it would be disastrous if the paramedics walked off the job.
The state labor board found paramedics can't be part of the union since they are not trained to put out fires.
paramedics may not be trainded to put out fires but are trained to help the firefighters should they get injured in the process of putting out fires.I think the parmedics position goes far beyond a firefighter and I would hope that the people who are involved with making this horrible decision should not need a parmedic should they be in a horrible automile accident or be very sick and need immediate assistant TO LIVE!!!!!!!!!
I do not understand what they are thinking. This city could not manage without our paramedics. These men and women put there lives at risk everytime they go out on a call. They may not be trained to put out fires but don't they work hand and hand with the firefighters?? Are the fire fighters and paramedic not there for each other?? The city of Philadelphia should put there energy into what is important to protect our City. I guess something has to happen really bad to wake them up. I am really disappointed in our Mayor. I thought he had alot more character than what I am seeing and hearing. I hope he proves me wrong and steps up to the plate to get this mess resolved. You are talking about alot of families being hurtby this.