State of the Bureau?

[NorthSTAR]

Is anything going on in EAB? Has nobody any positive information to share? Stories, photos of members in action, rumors? There hasn't been a productive post in 'EMS DC' in quite a while, lets hear from the field!

[Phantom]

enough said


Just kidding, there has got to be something positive to say.

[BMIG]

Is there any validity that all ems units will go to a 24 shift? Is there any validity that 1 and 1 staffing will soon occur? How many f/fs' are in the "advanced emt"(if there is such a term) class?


One little item to report. An associate of mine (who is a council staffer), called me at work to tell me that Mayor Williams was on radio station whur, and that several dc paramedics & emts' called the show and were whining to the Mayor about their lack of and/or insufficient retirement system.

[BMIG]

I see the chief put out a memo out to assure the minds of those ems folks who 'want to be like mike' that they will be placed in a fire training class.

What did they do look at the new f/f salary scale and have dreams of grandeur? :D

[NorthSTAR]

Did you also notice the new EMS operations schedule memorandum? 0700-1900, 1900-0700. Effective within 30 days of4/21/04.

[Kobersteen]

...0700-1900, 1900-0700. ...

So now your relief will sit in the parking lot of the firehouse and watch you take runs until 6:59, eh?

:D

[SkyMedic]

If they even walk in by 0700, haha. Hows life Kobersteen?

[xabo]

www.thecommondenominator.com

[Kobersteen]

www.thecommondenominator.com
Ambulance workers threaten slowdown

Is this headline ironic to anyone but me?

;)

[Phantom]

Sounds like they are feeling the pressure of the FFD stepping up to the plate to run things.

[SkyMedic]

I know first hand of the issues in EAB. The medics want what everyone else wants, good pay, good retirment and good working conditions. These things have been denied to EAB folks for a long time. If these things were present, the good ones would stay and the idiots would hopefully be weeded out(the idiots make it bad for the hard working people that just want to come in on time, run their share of calls and do a good job).

If a medic crew comes to work and does not play games with communications, I believe they would work harder per hour than most, not all, but most engine companys. It would be nice if they could develop a system where they(medics) have uniformed status(without fire school, good medics dont all want to fight fires) and accountability. Have promotional exams for EMS officers and crucify those that dont want to do their jobs. I realize that some medics have come over for the PECs but how bout doing it for the transport masses? Just a thought!!!!!!!!

[Judge Smales]

FYI, all EMS employees have been given the opportunity to cross over to the other side. Many have hit some stumbling blocks along the way, such as the physical abilities test, background checks, medical exams, etc., but several are now currently in recruit school and will be graduating soon.

[WeaselHunter]

Unfortuntaley, most of those "crossovers" currently in class are making fools of themselves and bringing down the morale of the classes. For most of them---and I quote several eab crossovers-- its just a job. If its just a job, go find another one and let someone who tested and wants to be a fireman for the right reason...'its their dream'.

;)

[SkyMedic]

While I am sure there are more than a few idiots that have crossed over for just a job, dont forget the few that have their stuff together and are doing well. Some of them are very proud to be DC Firefighters and would have come over on the list eventually anyhow..Just a thought

[WeaselHunter]

i said most...thats not all inclusive, and you are right.

[kenzin]

Have you ever had a family member that you found it difficult to get along with? If so, (and hopefully you never have to go through this) did you observe them at a family funeral? Again, if so, did you notice that despite your differences, they probably grieved as much as you did for the family member whose funeral you were attending. Why? Because you're family. Regardless of your differences, you have a common bond or interest. WE ALL serve the people who depend on us. They don't call us because they like to see us, they call on us because they NEED us and and WE can help. The DCFEMSD (Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department) is supposed to be ONE agency or family. We need to try (and I know it's hard) to recognize each other for the talent and service that we bring to the agency. Company Officers and EMS managers need to step up to the plate and resolve differences at the company level, ensure that employees are treated with the same fairness, respect and dignity that they would want for their children ( not implying that employees are children but that's the depth of caring that is required). You see, regardless of how you feel personally, the public that depends on YOU, each and every one, tends to feel less secure when there is obvious infighting among the people they not only pay, but depend on when things get rough and the you know what hits the fan.

The issues of compensation, benefits and working conditions are worked out in places other than the media. It is imperative that the agency gets it together.

I remember a guy saying a long time ago, "If one of us is in trouble, all of us is in trouble!" I thought, "What an idiot!" The sentence and it's structure was all jacked up. Now years later, it makes perfect sense. While the subject/verb agreement was incorrect, it made sense. It was only incorrect because the subject verb agreement (One is and All are) implies that the all consisted of separate entities. In actuality the ALL in the statement is not a group of separate entities, the ALL is ONE. The ALL is us! The statement, in that context, was profound. Now, I'm not a proponent of using incorrect English, but I'll say this, the person who made that statement got it right.

As members of the agency go around bashing one group or another, devisiveness abounds and keeps us separate. I've said this for a long time..managers it's time to manage your areas. It's actually up to the people who work where the rubber meets the road. If you do it right, the city really benefits!

[NorthSTAR]

http://washtimes.com/metro/20040524-094645-5761r.htm

[Rekindle]

Let the games begin

[NorthSTAR]

http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20040527-103628-1491r.htm :mad: