Gloucester Township EMS Alliance to Vote on Union Representation

There will be another election concerning union representation for the Gloucester Township EMS Alliance this month.

The last vote was taken in October of last year, when EMTs voted against being represented by the International Association of Firefighters Local 3249.

That vote was marred by charges the Gloucester Township EMS Alliance violated the rights of emergency medical technicians, including the improper termination of two EMT employees.

A total of six complaints were filed following a four-month investigation into the results of an election concerning the possibility of unionizing medical technicians at Gloucester Township EMS Alliance under the International Association of Firefighters Local 3249.

Complaints were filed by the union, as well as Gregory Bumgardner and Mark Fedorich, each of whom claimed they were wrongfully terminated.

Gloucester Township EMS Alliance Chief Mark Kramer and Board of Directors President Ray Currey Jr. allegedly interrogated employees on multiple occasions, both by phone and in person, concerning their union activities after Gloucester Township’s Emergency Medical Technicians sought union representation through Camden County International Association of Firefighters Local 3249 in September.

The proposal was voted down, but the result remained in question due to the allegations of employer intimidation.

A hearing had been scheduled for June, but the sides reached a settlement first.

As part of the settlement, the Gloucester Township EMS Alliance admitted no wrongdoing, but the proposal will go up for a second vote.

That vote takes place Aug. 18 and 19 at the Glendora Rescue Squad on Stetser Avenue in Gloucester Township.

All Emergency Medical Technicians currently employed by the Gloucester Township EMS Alliance will be able to vote in the election.

Bumgardner and Fedorich waived their right to be employed by Gloucester Township EMS Alliance, and received compensation.

Many of the charges that were filed were dismissed.

The settlement also called for a representative of the EMS Alliance management to read an NLRB notice to EMT employees during a mandatory meeting with a Labor Board agent present.

The Gloucester Township EMS Alliance is a non-profit company that provides ambulance and rescue services. It is not related to the municipality.

The International Association of Firefighters Local 3249 represents paid professional firefighters, Emergency Medical Technicians, paramedics and other related service employees in Cherry Hill, Collingswood, Gloucester Township Fire Districts 2, 4, 5, and 6, Haddon Heights, Pine Hill and Runnemede as well as the Voorhees and Winslow Township Fire Districts.