EMS Professionals in Polk County, Florida, Remain Concerned Over County Commissioners’ Recent Decision
April 22, 2010
Members of Local R5-917, EMS professionals with Polk County EMS of Florida, remain concerned over the effects of a decision yesterday by the Polk County Board of County Commissioners to allow a non-union, private ambulance service to begin operating in Polk County.
“The decision to bring a non-union EMS provider into Polk County raises a number of concerns for the members of Local 917 and the IAEP as a whole,” said IAEP Director of Organizing Bryan Hamrick. “We are worried about the loss of revenue this will cause the county, the possibility of job losses for Polk County EMS employees and the overall effect this decision will have on the quality of services provided to the residents of Polk County.”
The decision to issue a five-year certificate to this service raises a number of economic concerns for the County and the members of Local 917.
“The County Commissioners are essentially turning away revenue by bringing in another provider,” said Hamrick. “On one hand they are asking Local 917 members to take pay cuts due to economic issues, but then on the other hand they are reducing the amount of revenue coming in by issuing this certificate.”
The IAEP will continue to update this site as we receive more information and continue our fight for Local 917. The IAEP also continues to work diligently in our battle against a number of proposed cuts to the Florida State Retirement System.