The Boston EMS union, BPPA, organized another picketing event aimed at the Boston Public Health Commission on Saturday. All union members and their families were encouraged to attend to show their support.
Below is a recent post about the protest from the BPPA-EMS Division Facebook page:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Union workers protest Health Commission Beach Party.
BPHC throws itself a party following budget cuts and layoffs.
On Saturday August 14, 2013 the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) is sponsoring a beach party and barbeque on Long Island. This despite the fact that just six weeks ago the BPHC implemented massive budget cuts and layoffs within critical programs and services that it provides to the residents of the City of Boston, including its Emergency Medical Services due to a “lack of funding.” The memberships of the EMS Division of the Boston Police Patrolmans Association (BPPA EMS), American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and Salaried Employees of North America (SENA) will man informational picket lines at the gate to the Long Island facility from 0900 to 1600 on August 14, 2013 in order to highlight the misguided fiscal priorities of BPHC.
“I find it hard to believe that anyone would find it appropriate for the BPHC to be holding a celebration six weeks after laying off some of its longest serving employees. Doing so during a time in which they claim that fiscal constraint require reductions to the City’s Emergency Medical Services not only defies logic but illustrates a thorough disconnect between the Commission and its mission,” said James Orsino, President BPPA EMS.
“EMS has not been a budget priority for BPHC for several years according to their budget submissions. And yet they fully support some fairly bizarre programs. They own a flock of chickens out on Long Island that lay organic eggs. This free range chicken egg program is reportedly a “job training program.” I’m not aware of an emerging job market for chicken farmers here in the City, but this BPHC program is all set for FY’14 in case anyone was worried. We are concentrating on EMS issues instead,” added Orsino.
“The City of Boston sets a high standard for EMS and the men and women of BPPA take their responsibility to meet that standard very seriously. The recent events here in Boston illustrate that commitment. Prioritizing a beach party over the tools and resources needed to meet those high standards is not acceptable to this membership,” according to Robert Morley, Vice-President BPPA EMS. “It has been difficult to figure their priorities for a long time.”
The EMS Division of BPPA represents the EMTs, Paramedics, Supervisors, and Captains of Boston EMS. Boston EMS is the primary ambulance service providing Emergency Medical Services to the City of Boston responding to over 100,000 911 calls per year.
We parked in Quincy and got shuttled to the Long Island gate where the picketing would take place. We brought the stroller just in case there would more walking in circles. We watched airplanes while we waited for the shuttle,
Below is a recent post about the protest from the BPPA-EMS Division Facebook page:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Union workers protest Health Commission Beach Party.
BPHC throws itself a party following budget cuts and layoffs.
On Saturday August 14, 2013 the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) is sponsoring a beach party and barbeque on Long Island. This despite the fact that just six weeks ago the BPHC implemented massive budget cuts and layoffs within critical programs and services that it provides to the residents of the City of Boston, including its Emergency Medical Services due to a “lack of funding.” The memberships of the EMS Division of the Boston Police Patrolmans Association (BPPA EMS), American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and Salaried Employees of North America (SENA) will man informational picket lines at the gate to the Long Island facility from 0900 to 1600 on August 14, 2013 in order to highlight the misguided fiscal priorities of BPHC.
“I find it hard to believe that anyone would find it appropriate for the BPHC to be holding a celebration six weeks after laying off some of its longest serving employees. Doing so during a time in which they claim that fiscal constraint require reductions to the City’s Emergency Medical Services not only defies logic but illustrates a thorough disconnect between the Commission and its mission,” said James Orsino, President BPPA EMS.
“EMS has not been a budget priority for BPHC for several years according to their budget submissions. And yet they fully support some fairly bizarre programs. They own a flock of chickens out on Long Island that lay organic eggs. This free range chicken egg program is reportedly a “job training program.” I’m not aware of an emerging job market for chicken farmers here in the City, but this BPHC program is all set for FY’14 in case anyone was worried. We are concentrating on EMS issues instead,” added Orsino.
“The City of Boston sets a high standard for EMS and the men and women of BPPA take their responsibility to meet that standard very seriously. The recent events here in Boston illustrate that commitment. Prioritizing a beach party over the tools and resources needed to meet those high standards is not acceptable to this membership,” according to Robert Morley, Vice-President BPPA EMS. “It has been difficult to figure their priorities for a long time.”
The EMS Division of BPPA represents the EMTs, Paramedics, Supervisors, and Captains of Boston EMS. Boston EMS is the primary ambulance service providing Emergency Medical Services to the City of Boston responding to over 100,000 911 calls per year.
We parked in Quincy and got shuttled to the Long Island gate where the picketing would take place. We brought the stroller just in case there would more walking in circles. We watched airplanes while we waited for the shuttle,
The weather was beautiful and there was a great turnout of union members and their families.
Zoe and Silas held signs and helped out for awhile,
In particular they liked this chicken!
They ended up making friends with some other kids at the event and they all headed to play at an adjacent playground.
Over 160 people helped out throughout the day, and the story was picked up by a couple of local media outlets. Hopefully this will put pressure onto BPHC to bring them back to the bargaining table in good faith.
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