WILLISTON, N.D. (AP) - Nearly all of the full-time paramedics in Williston have formed a union, a move that city officials are not welcoming.
Thirteen of the city’s 15 full-time paramedics have formed a local chapter with the International Association of Fire Fighters, which represents nearly 300,000 firefighters and first responders in the United States and Canada, but at least one commissioner is challenging the move and even telling the members of the new union to move elsewhere.
The paramedics entered the union two weeks ago, the Williston Herald (https://bit.ly/1qd2Nlt ) reported. In a discussion with several captains and battalion chiefs, as well as a city commissioner, the members of Local 3743 said they felt “underutilized,” and added that most of them have training in firefighting that could help the city in greater capacity.
“We would like to ask the city if you guys would like to have a contract with us,” Cameron Bradley, a paramedic and member of the union, asked during the meeting, according to a recording provided to the newspaper.
But the officials told the group they were disappointed and upset about their decision to enter the union.
“We’re a non-union state. We’re going to stay that way. We’re going to follow what the state says is right at this point…,” said Tate Cymbaluk, the city’s police, fire and ambulance commissioner. “… If you want to be union, grab your stuff and go somewhere else guys, because it (isn’t) going to work in Williston.”
The general president of the international association, Harold A. Schaitberger, sent a letter to Cymbaluk on Wednesday countering that North Dakota law does allow public employees to unionize.
“Unlawfully threatening and intimidating firefighters for their membership and participation in a union is unacceptable and must cease immediately,” Schaitberger wrote.
The newspaper reports Cymbaluk also on Wednesday said members of the union had the right to organize and the city wouldn’t terminate them for joining the union.
“But it doesn’t mean we will honor them, however, we still need to honor their needs in the department,” Cymbaluk added.
The members of the union say they won’t push demands on the city - such as pay raises - but simply want open communication with officials, a safe work environment and some training.
Only 8.5 percent of North Dakota wage and salaried employees were represented by a union in 2013, according to figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. North Dakota is a “right to work” state, meaning that employees have the right not to associate with a union. But state law also says workers have the right to join a union if they wish.
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Information from: Williston Herald, https://www.willistonherald.com
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