News

General Strike Interview with REMSA Organizing Committee Members

The AFSCME Organizing Committee at REMSA sat down with General Strike Radio for an interview about their union organizing campaign. Listen with the link below

AZ Paramedic: ‘We Need Leadership From the Federal Government’

My name is Michelle Prentice, and I'm a field paramedic and field training officer in Maricopa County, Arizona. Our biggest fear is running out of personal protective equipment like masks and gowns.

Desperate for Relief, Under Unprecedented Strain, FDNY EMS Continues to Serve

The breadth of the crisis that the 4,500 members of AFSCME Local 2507 (District Council 37), which represents the EMTs, paramedics and fire inspectors of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), are facing is unparalleled.

42 Years of Honorable Service – 9/11 Responder Honored During Retirement

On the evening of June 26, members and colleagues gathered to honor Jim Tucciarelli, who retired after serving the people of the city of New York for more than 42 years and acting as a staunch advocate for fellow first responders who worked at Ground Zero.

In No Uncertain Terms

AFSCME Now talked to a New Mexico paramedic with a unique window into the challenges EMS professionals face. Despite those challenges, his dedication reflects the resolve of all AFSCME EMS professionals.

A Life-Changing Call Leads to a Life of Service

Darin Glodo is an 18-year veteran public safety communicator – a 911 operator in common parlance – for the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma. He charts his passion for his job to a single, life-changing call he fielded in 2002, at the dawn of his career.

A Vital Link in the Chain

Representative Norma Torres (D-CA), a former 911 dispatcher for the Los Angeles Police Department and AFSCME Local 3090 member, co-sponsored a bill that is being introduced today, 911 SAVES Act, that would give 911 dispatchers the recognition they deserve.

For Washington, D.C., Private EMS Workers – a New Contract and a Path Forward

The EMS professionals at American Medical Response (AMR) ambulance service in Washington, D.C., recently ratified their first contract after organizing with EMS Workers United/AFSCME District Council 20 last year. They’re now armed with an agreement that puts them on a strong footing for the future as they seek to elevate their profession while serving their community.

A Seat at the Table for EMS Workers in Prescott, Arizona

Before coming together for a voice on the job in 2017, the paramedics, EMTs and dispatchers in Prescott, Arizona, had no way to stem the tide of overreaches by their employer.

AFSCME Supports Bill Curbing Workplace Violence

Pamela Knight, a child protective investigator with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Service (DCFS), was sent to check on the welfare of a child last fall. When she arrived at the child’s residence, the father viciously attacked her. She died months later as a result of the injuries she sustained during the attack.

EMS Week 2018: Thank You!

As EMS professionals, we're the first to show up when the unthinkable happens. Like doctors, we deliver lifesaving medical treatment; like firefighters, we rush headlong into disaster; like police officers, we calm potentially dangerous situations. Our communities depend on our bravery, skill and clear thinking. All too often, however, our sacrifices are taken for granted.