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Why NAGE EMS?

EMS is a rapidly growing sector of public health and safety.  From the late 1960's to today, EMS has gone through rapid changes as EMS has grown from the "ambulance driver" days of the past, to the trained EMS Professionals of today.  The EMS Professionals of today are highly trained, skilled practitioners of out of hospital and pre-hospital medicine and are relied on to provide 911 and emergency services throughout our nation.

With the growth of EMS as an industry, increased regulation and government control of medical billing and reimbursement rates paid for services, and the rising influence of "corporate EMS" in everything from supply chains to medical billing to ownership of ambulance services, EMS Professionals need someone to look out for their interests.  

NAGE EMS exists to provide union representation to privately employed EMS Professionals to their various employers and the general public. NAGE EMS does this through forming strong union locals, negotiating industry leading labor contracts, enforcing contracts and existing law, and providing top-notch representational, political involvement and lobbying, and support services for NAGE EMS locals.  NAGE EMS also helps locals engage the communities that they serve, with community awareness and charity activities.

Finally with NAGE EMS, EMS Professionals have somebody in their corner, fighting for them.

 

Why is NAGE EMS
Right for You?

Being in a union increases wages, augments benefits and retirements, and improves working conditions for EMS Professionals and workers in general.  EMTs, Paramedics, and EMS support staff as union members generally make more money, receive better benefits and retirements, and have better working conditions than their non-union counterparts.

But more importantly, NAGE EMS members have joined together for mutual benefit and strength.  Together they advocate for improvements to EMS systems, changes to rules, laws, and policies detrimental to EMS, and make changes for the better where they work and live.
 

​NAGE EMS: Strong Representation, Top-Notch Labor Contracts, Political Influence and Lobbying, Improved Lives.
Doctor's hands

What Can NAGE EMS do for YOU?

Forming a union changes the basic power relationship at work. Without a union, employers have almost all the rights. They can change your pay and working conditions at any time as long as they do not violate certain laws, like the minimum wage. Any benefits you receive are at the discretion of your employer.

Once you form a union, your employer cannot make changes in your working conditions unless they are negotiated with you as union members. Any benefits or working conditions covered by your contract are protected by law.


When you negotiate your contract, you and your co-workers decide what kinds of things could be improved at your work site and make proposals to your employer. Your employer is legally obligated to negotiate over most proposals that affect the quality of your work life. A union gives you strength in numbers to improve your pay, benefits, and working conditions.

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Here are some direct benefits you can see from NAGE EMS:

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

NAGE EMS offers direct access to professional, experienced negotiators on staff, ready to help your local negotiate the best contract possible.

 

Our success is unmatched. We get fair contract language, raises, and unbeatable health-care provisions in every contract we negotiate.

 

Once you and your fellow members ratify your contract, you can expect continued support from your national representative who will help you resolve job-related issues that may arise.

LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY

NAGE EMS has a powerful voice in Washington, D.C. and in State Houses across the country.

 

Our full-time, dedicated legislative team works around the clock to safeguard and protect your jobs and your bargaining rights so that you can focus on the job of caring for the citizens of our cities and towns.

LEGAL

EXPERTISE

Unlike most unions, NAGE EMS employs a staff of full-time labor attorneys whose only job is to work with and help our members resolve work-related issues. Our attorneys aren't working on wills, insurance claims, and dog-bite lawsuits—they're working in labor law to assist you. 

 

We provide legal services free of charge to our members on work-related issues, including arbitration hearings, disciplinary hearings and civil rights lawsuits.

POLITICAL

ACTION

The Committee on Political Education (COPE) is a voluntary political action fund that supports the NAGE EMS local and national political agenda.

 

We finance pro-EMS, pro-union candidates who support you and understand the legislation you need as an EMS professional.

What Are My Rights to Join NAGE EMS?

      Under Federal Law, employees have the right to form, join, support or assist unions who may bargain collectively with the employer on the employees’ behalf seeking to better their wages or working conditions. This is typically called a collective bargaining agreement or contract in the private sector or a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or Contract in the public sector.

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Under federal law, you cannot be disciplined for:

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  •  Assisting in Union Organizing, Forming, or attempting to form a union for you and your fellow employees.

  • Joining a union whether the union is currently recognized by your employer or not.

  • Engaging or refusing to engage in activities protected by the law related to your support of a union.

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Under federal law, your employer cannot:

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  • Interfere with, restrain, or coerce employees in the exercise of rights relating to organizing, forming, joining or assisting a labor organization for collective bargaining purposes, or engage in protected activities, or refrain from any such activity. 

  •  Discipline or terminate your employment for union activity or support                 

  •  Deny you raises, promotions, or benefits because Of union activity or support

  •  Attempt to coerce, manipulate, or bribe you to stop your union support or activity

  • Say "Support the union and I will punish you"

  • Say "If you bring a union in here, I'll fire you or shut down the business."

  • Say "I refuse to negotiate with a union, your YES vote would be meaningless"

  • Say "If you vote for the union, I will fire anyone who votes YES"

Fight the Smears

Here is where NAGE EMS Fights the Smears:
What people associate unions with and what the truth actually is...
 
Smear:
Labor Unions don’t actually raise wages or improve working conditions.

 

Truth:
Labor unions absolutely make a difference according to the US department of labor, which has found that labor union membership causes wages to increase compared to similar non-union positions, and working conditions to improve. Workers gain a voice on the job and a sense of economic security.
 

Smear:
Labor unions are outside, special interest groups.

Truth:
The WORKERS are the union, who stand up for their rights on the job and in society. The workers have full rights to participate in and vote in union matters. They get a voice at the table and elect their own local officers. National representatives train and assist their local officers and provide the resources they need. Local elected shop steward leaders make decisions about grievances, arbitrations and more. It’s THEIR local and THEY decide.
 



Smear:
Unions bring conflict to the workplace.

Truth:
Unions actually can make the workplace a fairer, more harmonious place to work. With a contract in place settled on by the workers themselves, everyone is under the same rules and do not have to deal with favoritism and less economic security than others.
 


Smear:
Unions just want workers’ dues.

Truth:
The money workers pay each month goes back into running their organization. They have the ability to structure the local the way they want. The money goes towards their representation so they gain the best possible pay, benefits and fair treatment.
 



Smear:
Unions are fizzling out in the working world.

Truth:
The number of union members has stayed steady for the past 50 years. Sixteen million working men and women in the U.S. are union members.  Current NAGE membership is over 43,000 (12,000 + EMS professionals) and continues to grow each year because of strong reputation of transparency and top notch representation.
 


Smear:
Unions force workers out on strike often.

Truth:
Most contract negotiations are settled without a strike. Strikes are voted on by membership and will only happen if the membership fully agrees on it. Most unions use their trained negotiators and skilled professionals to gain what membership wants at the bargaining table instead.

 According to the Mirriam-Webster dictionary:

                             smear:  noun \ˈsmir\  :  a usually unsubstantiated charge or accusation against a                                                                        person or organization - <a smear campaign>  <smear job>
 

truth:  noun \ˈtrüth\   :  the real facts about something - the things that are true

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