CLEVELAND, Ohio — The union president for the Cleveland Association of Rescue Employees says a sit in at a Cleveland City Council meeting earlier this month was sparked by disagreements over a proposed new collective bargaining agreement.
- The Cleveland Association of Rescue Employees says there's an ongoing disagreement between the union and the city over a proposed new collective bargaining agreement
- One of the major disputes involves the union's demands for better mental health support for EMS workers
- An arbitrator ruled in favor of the union, but the City of Cleveland is challenging the court's decision
“It’s just one of those things to let them know that we sit in solidarity, to let them know that we’re all here and we want to talk,” said Paul Meluish, union president.
In addition to compensation, one of the major disputes involves the union's demands for better mental health support for EMS workers — including recognizing post-traumatic stress disorder or "PTSD" as a condition that qualifies for paid leave.
Members say the job is increasingly more stressful these days.
According to court documents, call volumes for EMS increased by 31% from 2011 to 2017.
Fire Station No. 7 on Cleveland's east side is reportedly the busiest.
Here’s how one EMS worker at the City Hall rally explained the toll the job can take on a person's mental wellness:
“In 2013, I was a new paramedic that was assigned to a unit that was assigned to do a wellness check on a fellow division of EMS employee that missed work. We investigated, and found that he had died in his home. This was someone I knew. I had to write that call, as my partner was too distressed to do so.”
An arbitrator ruled in favor of the union.
The dispute now sits in the court of appeals, as the city is challenging the court's decision.
But the union wants help soon.
“We asked for PTSD language, language to make things better for our employees, to make them mentally fit to come back to work,” Meluish said.