By Giles Bruce
The Times
MERRILLVILLE, Ind. — Employees of Prompt Ambulance Service, the Region’s largest private ambulance provider, will vote next week on whether to unionize.
The vote will include full- and regular part-time ambulance drivers, paramedics and emergency medical technicians working out of Prompt locations in Highland, Merrillville, Dyer, East Chicago, Valparaiso, Lake Station, Munster, Kingsbury and Griffith, according to a National Labor Relations Board election notice. Ineligible are such workers as dispatchers, clerical staff and supervisors.
The secret-ballot vote takes place from 6-9 a.m. and 5-8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday in the cot repair room of Prompt’s office at 6300 Broadway, in Merrillville. Employees will be voting on whether to authorize the International Association of EMTs and Paramedics to represent them in collective bargaining.
Prompt CEO Gary Miller said the company, which has a staff of roughly 700, is one of the largest EMS employers in the state and thus a natural target for the International Association of EMTs and Paramedics. He said he has seen a contract of one of the services IAEP represents and Prompt has superior benefits.
“Unfortunately, these employees are being targeted, and I think they’re going to be making an emotional decision rather than a logical one,” he said. “It’s just sad.”
An IAEP spokesman did not respond to requests for comment Thursday.
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