American Medical Response (AMR), 9-1-1 ambulance service provider for San Mateo County, announced today that it will continue to provide uninterrupted service while NEMSA, the union representing AMR''s paramedic workforce, conducts an informational picket. NEMSA issued AMR a notice of intent to perform an informational picket starting on Monday, February 1, 2010.
AMR''s last best and final offer to the union contains a 9% pay increase over three years, which the company believes is more than fair given the current state of the nation''s economy. AMR''s San Mateo senior paramedics are among the highest private paid paramedics in the country, with more than 20% earning over $100,000 a year, and some earning over $140,000. NEMSA is demanding a pay increase of 18% over three years. Although formal contract negotiations have ended, NEMSA still has the option to accept AMR''s offer.
"We fully intend to provide raises to our employees, but the union wage demand of an 18% increase is hard to understand when so many people are unemployed, being furloughed or asked to take pay reductions," said Brad White, AMR San Mateo General Manager.
In addition to a wage increase, AMR is continuing to offer employees one of the most comprehensive benefits package in the industry that includes health, dental and vision insurance, 401(k) with 5% company match, over seven weeks a year of paid time off and company-paid life and disability insurance.
Union representatives for the 46 full-time and 40 part-time paramedics under the contract have only issued notice of a possible informational picket, not a strike. However, AMR has drawn on its tremendous depth of resources in neighboring areas and throughout the State to fortify our local workforce with trained and accredited professionals in order to ensure uninterrupted service should the union call for a work slow down or other work action.
American Medical Response Inc. (www.amr.net), America''s leading provider of medical transportation, is locally operated in 36 states and the District of Columbia. AMR''s 18,500 paramedics, EMTs and other professionals transport nearly four million patients nationwide each year in critical, emergency and non-emergency situations. Operating a fleet of approximately 4,500 vehicles, AMR, a subsidiary of Emergency Medical Services Corporation, is headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colo.
Contacts:
American Medical Response
Jason Sorrick, 916-870-8756
jason.sorrick@amr.net
