BUFFALO, N.Y. — Workers who provide ambulance service in Buffalo and other municipalities paid a surprise visit Tuesday to Mayor Byron W. Brown.
Employees of Rural/Metro Medical Services said they want city officials to place “political pressure” on the company to settle a protracted contract dispute.
The meeting ended with the mayor promising to call Rural/Metro’s chief negotiator. Contract talks are scheduled to resume today.
Brown said union members assured him that going on strike is “the last thing they want to do.”
“But it’s critically important that a contract is negotiated and the issues are resolved,” Brown said.
Joseph Sorrento, president of Teamsters Local 375, left City Hall saying he believes the mayor is responsive to the union’s concerns.
“He understands the urgency of it, because we don’t want to strike,” Sorrento said.
The union would have to give 10 days’ notice before any job action, and Sorrento said he hoped to avert a strike.
Union members said economic issues and working conditions still must be resolved.
The 400-member union voted down a proposed contract last month after rejecting a proposal by a federal mediator a few months earlier. Rob Kemp, an emergency medical technician, said that, after working nearly four years at Rural/Metro, he makes only $9.70 an hour. He cited statistics indicating that the company’s salaries substantially lag behind national averages. Michael Karalunas, another emergency medical technician, said negotiations also must resolve issues involving antiquated equipment and vehicles.
Rural/Metro officials could not be reached to comment.
The company is the sole provider of ambulance service in Buffalo. It also provides emergency medical services in neighboring localities, including Niagara Falls, Lockport, Medina and the towns of Cheektowaga, Evans and Hamburg.
