By Namu Sampath
masslive.com
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Ambulance service American Medical Response and its unionized employees have come to a “tentative” agreement, according to an emailed statement.
“The union has informed AMR it will now recommend the settlement to its membership for ratification,” said Patrick Leonardo, regional director for AMR, which serves Springfield and Greenfield.
Earlier this week, the ambulance company held a press conference announcing its unionized employees planned to strike on Sunday, after disagreements over a “picket line clause,” which would have allowed members to refuse to respond to a call if other unions are on the picket line, “unless they deem it life-threatening,” Leonardo said.
Bryan Donovan, the union representative and president of Teamsters Local 404, said negotiators achieved “a full complement of the employee’s concerns/demands, including an increase in wages, overtime/holdover language, and retro pay back to May 1st of 2024.”
The new agreement includes “picket line language adapted from a Hartford AMR contract,” which “follows the same protocols, and/or standards“ that comply with the state’s regulations, Donovan said in a statement.
According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, state regulations say EMS or paramedic personnel who refuse to work in the event of an emergency are at risk of losing their licenses, as it would violate the “statewide treatment protocols.”
If the language hadn’t complied with the state, it ”wouldn’t have been accepted by the company or the Teamsters,” Donovan said, explaining that regulations don’t vary much despite crossing state lines.
The unionized employees hope the new contract will be ratified the week after Thanksgiving, he said.
According to Leonardo’s statement Thursday afternoon, the strike will no longer be happening.
“The agreed-upon contract supports our employees and guarantees that residents continue to receive the vital care they depend on,” Leonardo said.
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