Ambulance Crews Walk Off Jobs
Ambulance crews for a private company that provides medical transportation service in the San Fernando Valley and eastern Los Angeles County walked off the job Friday in a dispute over wages and benefits.
The one-day strike involved 150 emergency medical technicians and paramedics working for American Medical Response at stations serving parts of Canoga Park, Van Nuys, Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena.
The ambulance crews are seeking an annual 7% increase to their hourly wage for the next three years, as well as improved health insurance and retirement benefits. EMTs currently make from $8.46 to $12.86 an hour, while paramedics, who have more training, make from $13.19 to $18 an hour.
Crews have been working without a contract since their three-year pact expired Sept. 16.
The workers are represented by the Health Care Workers Union, a division of Service Employees International Union Local 250. AMR hired replacement crews on Friday to ensure uninterrupted service, a company spokesman said.
Ambulance crews plan to return to work today, union officials said. Officials are to resume negotiations on Wednesday.
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