Tentative contract ironed out after medics walk off the job
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Medics picket outside of the Munhall Borough building as area mayors, ambulance service management and union leaders met today. The sign on one medic's dog reads, "My dog won't work for 30% less! Strike for fair pay."
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Medics serving Munhall, Homestead and West Homestead walked off the job at 7 a.m. Saturday, only to return to work at 3 p.m. with a tentative contract agreement.
Their strike ended after officials of all three boroughs called the Munhall Area Prehospital Service and Local 7 of the Fraternal Association of Professional Paramedics to an emergency negotiating session at the Munhall borough building.
"My message was just to sit down and talk together," said Homestead Mayor Betty Esper. Her leverage: "If any borough leaves [its contract with the ambulance service], MAPS is in trouble."
Members of Local 7 had been working all year under an expired contract with the private, nonprofit MAPS. MAPS last week reduced the typical work schedule from two 24-hour shifts to two 16-hour shifts and one 8-hour shift, in an effort to reduce overtime and improve safety.
Medics said that eliminating overtime amounted to a 30 percent reduction in their paychecks.
The tentative agreement calls for having medics work three 16-hour shifts weekly, retaining the overtime while freezing base pay.
"We'll find out if [the new contract] is doable," said MAPS President Michael Aldrich, whose agency has been contending with tough economic times.
First Published October 17, 2010 12:00 am
