EMS Professionals in Lee County Win Battle for Overtime
March 01, 2010
Members of Local R5-533, supervisors with Lee County EMS of Florida, recently returned to their normal work schedules after winning a court battle with management over a unilateral change in their scheduling and overtime policies. Effected bargaining unit members were also made whole for all lost overtime.
Local R5-533 members began their court battle with management during their recent organizing drive with the IAEP, when management unilaterally decided to change their employment status. By changing them to “exempt status,” management effectively made them ineligible for overtime pay.
Following their vote to join the IAEP, the union helped these members during litigation and worked with management to finalize an MOU regarding the change in status and remedy for impacted bargaining unit members.
“This is a great example of how individuals taking an initiative in their workplace can have positive results,” said National Representative Bret Cyr. “These members chose to bring about a lawsuit on their own, while already fighting to organize and gain a stronger voice in their workplace.”