By Maki Becker and Brian Meyer
The Buffalo News
BUFFALO, NY — Firefighters are prepared to provide additional emergency services in the unlikely event that workers who provide ambulance service in Buffalo go on strike, city officials confirmed today.
The membership of the labor union representing Rural/Metro Ambulance Services’ workers voted down a new contract Wednesday night.
Negotiators on both sides had worked out a tentative contract over the summer after a strike vote had been authorized. But there have been no signs that the 400 workers represented by Local 375 of the Teamsters Union were getting ready to strike.
“We haven’t heard of any indication that at the moment, this vote has any immediate impact on their services,” said Peter Cutler, spokesman for Mayor Byron W. Brown.
Rural/Metro spokesman Jay Smith said the strike vote had been detailed but declined to give further details.
Union representatives could not be reached to comment.
Cutler said City Hall was keeping close tabs on the situation and that contingency plans have been discussed. City firefighters are already first responders to emergency calls and can provide basic life support services. Cutler said that in the unlikely event Rural/Metro employees stage a job action, firefighters would expand their emergency services duties.
“There’s definitely a back-up plan in place, but we don’t think there will be any need to implement it,” Cutler said this morning.
Fire Commissioner Michael S. Lombardo said about half of all firefighters are emergency medical technicians, while the rest are certified first responders.
“We’re going to do whatever we need to do to make sure the citizens of Buffalo are safe,” said Lombardo, adding that he has been in touch with Rural/Metro officials.
Rural/Metro is Buffalo’s exclusive provider of ambulance service. It also provides emergency medical services to many neighboring localities, including Niagara Falls, Lockport, Medina and the towns of Cheektowaga, Hamburg and Evans.
In July, the membership strongly rejected a proposal advanced by a federal mediator. As the labor dispute festered throughout the summer, Rural/Metro officials downplayed the possibility of a strike. What’s more, they gave assurances that the company would work closely with “municipal partners,” nursing homes and local hospitals to try to avoid service disruptions in the event of a walkout.
Both sides have said over the last few months that they hope to avoid a strike.