Union says 300 ambulance personnel in LA County soon could strike

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_8918300

The Associated Press
Article Launched: 04/14/2008 02:43:08 AM PDT

LOS ANGELES—It soon could take a little longer to get an ambulance in Los Angeles County.

The national director of the International Association of EMTs & Paramedics says 300 employees of American Medical Response are ready to strike later this month if they don't get better wages and benefits. Their contract extension expired April 1.

The union's Matthew Levy says starting pay for an emergency medical technician is about $9.50 an hour. The union wants the AMR to pay 80 percent of health insurance costs and guarantee an annual wage increase.

An AMR spokesman says the company is committed to reaching a fair agreement.

AMR is one of several ambulance providers that serve the county.

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Information from: (Los Angeles) Daily News, http://www.dailynews.com