The EMS professionals at American Medical Response ambulance service in the District recently ratified their first contract after organizing with EMS Workers United/AFSCME District Council 20 last year.
The agreement tackles many problems EMTs and paramedics had been facing at the private ambulance service, including poorly stocked and poorly maintained ambulances. “We decided to organize because we had three main issues – we wanted working equipment, fair scheduling and fair pay,” said EMT Lindsay Washington. “We are our patients’ primary providers. Without working equipment, we cannot give them the best care possible.” And while they’re proud of the gains they’ve achieved, the EMS professionals aren’t satisfied. “This was a big step,” said EMT Kyle Kemerer. “Now, we want to utilize the framework of the contract to continue to keep the company in line, improve operations and improve the working conditions.” On today’s labor calendar, tune in for “Your Rights at Work” today at 2pm here on WPFW when we’ll talk with DC Jobs with Justice’s Elizabeth Falcon about their plans to do outreach to workers and connect them with resources to address sexual assault and harassment on the job. That’s 2pm this afternoon right here on WPFW. In today's labor history, on this date in 1912, the U.S. Commission on Industrial Relations was formed by Congress, during a period of great labor and social unrest. After three years, and hearing witnesses ranging from Wobblies to capitalists, it issued an 11-volume report frequently critical of capitalism. Today’s labor quote is by James 'O Connell and John Brown Lennon, of the American Federation of Labor, who both served on the U.S. Commission on Industrial Relations. James 'O Connell and John Brown Lennon, who said: "Where (labor) organization is lacking, dangerous discontent is found on every hand; low wages and long hours prevail; exploitation in every direction is practiced; the people become sullen, have no regard for law and government, and are, in reality, a latent volcano, as dangerous to society as are the volcanoes of nature to the landscape surrounding them."
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