San Gabriel Valley Tribune
Copyright 2008 MediaNews Group, Inc. and Los Angeles Newspaper Group, Inc.
ANTELOPE VALLEY, Calif. — The strike involving paramedics and emergency medical technicians in the Antelope, Santa Clarita and San Gabriel valleys has ended, officials announced this morning.
American Medical Response and the union representing nearly 300 emergency personnel reached a tentative labor agreement Wednesday night, and the employees are expected to go back to work today and Friday.
“The strike is over,” said Jason Sorrick, an AMR spokesman. “Our employees are coming back to work. We are moving forward and we will continue to provide the best emergency service to the citizens we serve.”
According to AMR, the new contract calls for wages to increase by 20 percent over the next four years, retroactive to November 2007. The company also will not make any changes to employee healthcare benefits through December.
The members of the International Association of EMTs and Paramedics went on strike Monday. AMR brought in employees from other areas of California, Oregon and Missouri to operate ambulances.