Pittsburgh EMS Strike Likely Averted

Just before Pittsburgh paramedics gave their union leadership unanimous authorization to call a strike Jan. 1, city lawyers offered a six-month contract extension that may have averted the walkout.

Jeff Vesci, president of the Fraternal Association of Professional Paramedics, said city attorney Joseph Quinn e-mailed the extension offer 30 minutes before the union's voting began yesterday.

Mr. Vesci said the union likely would accept the city's offer, which would extend the current contract until June 30. Union members will meet with city officials this morning to discuss the offer and sign off on the extension.

"This is a show of faith from the Murphy administration and the O'Connor administration," said Mr. Vesci. "It's a win-win situation for everyone."

The union had asked for a one-year extension so issues regarding potential privatization and health insurance could be worked out.

"We can continue to work under the terms that we have," said Mr. Vesci. "A year from now, the city may be financially better off."

Dick Skrinjar, spokesman for Mayor-elect Bob O'Connor, said, "Bob is for keeping a good-faith effort going, while providing the services for the city of Pittsburgh."

Paramedics voted 118-0 yesterday to reject the city's most recent contract offer. Forty-three members of the union were working and excused from voting. The current contract runs through Dec. 31.

Mr. Vesci said the paramedics objected to provisions in the city's proposal that would allow it to turn the Emergency Medical Services Bureau over to a consortium of hospitals or some other private entity, which would not have to keep the union contract.

Talks on privatization of EMS are moribund, but the concept is still part of the city's fiscal recovery plan.

"By eliminating [union security clauses], they could fold us into any entity they want," he said.

The paramedics also face the possibility of paying more for health insurance under a new contract. They now have one plan for which employees pay nothing, and a better plan that entails a monthly payment of around $70.

Some other city workers now make monthly contributions for health insurance that range from $11 to $229 a month, depending on the plan chosen, the worker's wages and family size, plus co-pays. The city's fiscal recovery plan calls for getting as many workers as possible into that plan structure.

"Give us a year to work through all of these issues," Mr. Vesci said. "We need that as a show of faith that they are going to keep us."

Mayor Tom Murphy's spokesman said the administration would not comment on contract negotiations.

"For them to decide to go on strike would be a devastating decision," said city Councilman William Peduto. "You can't go an hour without ambulance service."

City paramedics earn a base salary of $32,000 to $47,000 a year. Because of understaffing, they often work mandatory overtime, and the city will spend $3 million on paramedic premium pay this year.

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