Union president responds to city ambulance vote

Dear Editor:
IAFF Local 4956 members have been serving the City of Aurora and Hamilton County since it was established in 2013. The Local has negotiated collective bargaining agreements with the City of Aurora and Hamilton County to ensure fair wages and benefits for the employees, as well as ensuring safety for the employees. Local 4956 does not cost money to the City or the taxpayers. Members pay monthly dues.  
We are professionals in our field. A century of combined Fire and EMS experience currently serves the City of Aurora and Hamilton County. We did not choose to work for a private company. We chose to work for the Aurora Fire Department. The Aurora Fire Department was something to be proud of and was a place where we were not just a number. 
There are federal and state programs that do not offer services to the private sector. For example, private EMS providers do not receive Public Safety Officer Benefits. The PSOB Program is a federal program that provides death and education benefits to the families of public safety officers killed in the line of duty. This is something that we do qualify for when working for a municipality, however, will no longer be the case if working for a private entity. If we are killed in the line of duty, our families will no longer be taken care of. Consider that Interstate 80 is extremely unsafe for all first responders and the chance of a line of duty death due to an interstate response is something we must not ignore. 
Citizens, remember that your elected officials made this decision. If you do not feel your elected officials voted in the best interest for their constituents, please remember this at the ballot box. Also, consider the officials who are running unopposed for positions and understand the lack of democracy that can cause. 
The citizens of Aurora and Hamilton County have had a public ambulance service serving them since 1975 when Hamilton County Ambulance was established. Unfortunately, the Aurora City Council has decided it is no longer in the best interest for the citizens.
On behalf of the membership of Local 4956, both past and present, thank you for the support over the years. We wish you all the best. 
Amelia Guenther, 
IAFF Local 4956 president