DOES ANYONE KNOW ABOUT THE AMR STRIKE IN LOS ANGELES?

[Trapper]

I am hoping Dust, just read the post too fast.

[Dustdevil]

I completely understand the post, as well as how it all works. My point stands. Your comments reflect exactly what the public and the community leaders think about us when we ask for money. They think, "yeah, we need it, but somebody ought to be giving it to us for for free!" You and they are wrong. I mean seriously, how often do you have to go to the doctor and spend that $300 bucks? You can't get cable TV for much under a hundred bucks a year in this country, but I bet you still manage to pay for it. You're going to spend over a thousand a year on cable TV, but balk at $300 dollars for your health? That's why this profession gets no respect.

[Trapper]

LOL

Hell, DustDevil we are lucky if the public even knows the difference between a EMT and a PM, let alone, have a clue as to what me make for pay or receive for health benefits...

So for you to say that the public does not respect us, because we ask for improved pay and health care, leads me to think that your way out of touch, maybe a desk jockey.

Do your self some good, go out and get some air.....

[Doug]

Ok...without insurance my bill for routine check up would be $225. Now add in my wife and 2 kids...so right there you are talking $900. I don't know about where you are but to walk into an ER here is $425...not including anything beyond a consult. I don't abuse the ER but I have been a few times for things that couldn't wait till Monday. let's say average once a year. And we are the proverbial "healthy ones." Now, god forbid you had anything moderately serious, that required repeated follow ups, under the AMR plan as explained to us EACH FOLLOW UP visit is billed to you up to $300 whereas most insurance has a deductable PER incident. I had a partial tear in one of my calves a couple years ago that required 4 follow up visits and 1 surgical consult...lets see 1 ER visit $300 to me, 4 follow ups $225, and one surgical consult $160 (i have no idea why) My insurance considered that all one incidnet and my co-pay was $100..under the AMR plan I would have had to pay for all but $125 of the ER visit.

Dust, where do you get the idea that I want something for nothing and/or think that I don't think the value is there?

[Doug]

As a follow up...Can I assume then, Dust, you turn down your insurance and pay full boat out of pocket for your medical expenses at time of use? At the risk of incuring the wrath of Dust it seems a bit hypocritical for you to point out that someone would complain about the cost of healthcare while you enjoy said compensation.

[Doug]

Oh as for the plan. Don't forget each employee would be paying 10% of the "premium" to the company that provides the plan, in this case AMR, as they are "self-insureing. They also get to decide the VALUE of this plan. So if they decide that the value is $1000/month that's $100 per employee at 18,000 employees thats over $21 MILLION a year INCOME that the company makes off of it's employees. With part of that money they go out and purchase something catastrophic coverage insurance (as a note this is not speculation this was told to us by corporate rep who actually thought this was a good idea) in case someones medical costs went above $10,000. Then that money would no longer come out of the pool but from a third insurer.

[JPINFV]

Hell, DustDevil we are lucky if the public even knows the difference between a EMT and a PM, let alone, have a clue as to what me make for pay or receive for health benefits...

Well, let's be fair about this. EMS can't even decide what to call a paramedic.

Names for paramedics: EMT-Paramedic, Paramedic, Paramedic Specialist (from a state that calls EMT-I/99 a "EMT-Paramedic"), Mobile Intensive Care Technician, EMT-Advanced (while other states use an "advanced" designation for intermediate levels), Licensed Paramedic, and Mobile Intensive Care Paramedic.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_med...levels_by_state

Let's not even get started with the different names and levels for intermediates and the different names for basics. With 7 different titles for the EMT-Paramedic level (plus 1 intermediate level being called a paramedic), how can we expect the press to accurately report on our titles?

[AnthonyM83]

It's sure hard to pay $300/visit (which might be often if a medical condition develops) when you're making either minimum wage or close to it (for those in other states who make less than $8/hr, remember the high cost of living here), plus associated costs (lab tests, prescription fills with ongoing problems).

At least at our company, everyone is scrapping, at least those who don't still live with mom and dad or get support from them. Without overtime (and before my 3% 1yr raise), my base paycheck was $25 short of paying my monthly rent. Then add in paying back college loans, gas, food, and household expenses (laundry machines, soap, etc) and I had very very little to myself...a few office visits in a month would have broken me.

[JPINFV]

LANCASTER, Calif. - (Business Wire) American Medical Response (AMR) and the International Association of EMTs and Paramedics (IAEP) announced tonight that a tentative labor agreement has been reached. IAEP, Locals #77 and #187 have ended the strike as a result of the tentative agreement.

Under the terms of the agreement, employees’ wages will increase by 20 percent over the next four years, with initial increases being retroactive to November 2007. Additionally the company will make no changes to employees’ healthcare benefits through December 2008.

“We are pleased that we have been able to negotiate an agreement. AMR has a well-trained team of paramedics and EMTs dedicated to providing the highest level of care to our patients, whom we will continue to focus on going forward,” said Scott White, AMR general manager.

Matthew Levy, IAEP National Director, said, “After several months of talks, we have reached an agreement we believe equitable for all parties, and we expect employees will fully ratify the agreement in the next few weeks. Our members are ready to get back to the work of caring for their communities,” Levy concluded.

Striking employees are expected to return to their normal shift effective tomorrow but by no later than Friday. Both parties have agreed to put their differences behind them and have agreed not to pursue any claims that have resulted by virtue of the work action.

Since reaching the tentative agreement, union officials have canceled the strike, and employees are expected to report for scheduled shifts beginning Thursday morning.

American Medical Response Inc., (www.amr.net) America’s leading provider of m

Strikes over with the only apparent concession being that the health insurance plan won't be touched until January '09. I hope the 4 days off were worth it instead of a counter offer.

[AnthonyM83]

And the 20% wage increase even it's over the next four years.