Consultations

October 19, 2009 - This Consultation meeting was held today by both the IAFF and the Cit of Norman in the Multi-purpose room at City Hall. The meeting issues of Workers Compensation Laws, the City's Drug Testing Policy, Sick Leave, Supervisor Training in Human Resources issues, and more. (Read letter of request...) (Read pertinent memo...)

Contact Butch Crawford or Tim McDermott if you wish to know specifically about the discussions until such time when those considerations become fruitful as pertaining to any action on behalf of those issues take place.

UPDATE: March 5, 2009 - Explanation to the City concerning the desire for all parties, the City of Norman, the Norman Fire Department, the IAFF Local 2067, Norman Regional, the NRH Emergency Medical Director, and the six (6) members of the Local who are currently Paramedics, were held this morning in the multi-purpose room at City Hall.

All present realize the status of cooperation and level of commitment the Norman Fire Department and NRH's Emergency Department (EMSSTAT) have with one another. The level of success seen by Norman is unprecedented in the United States with a 'save-rate' of over 50%. (If a citizen in Norman were to have a heart attack, they have a 50/50 chance of actually walking out of the ER and continuing a quality life. Second to Norman, OK is King Co. Oregon touting in the upper 40% range. Beyond this, elsewhere in the country, an individual might have a 1 in 10 chance of any meaningful survival.

With this fact in mind, it seems all in the room are tentatively "on-board" with allowing a mid-contract MOI (Memorandum of Understanding) allowing for the Hospital Emergency Director to write individual protocols allowing our Department's Paramedics to provide a level of service meeting their training. This would prove only to add to the success already in place.

We remain in wait as the City's Legal department discusses this issue with the Mayor, City Council, City Manager and Norman Regional Hospital.

Albeit not a necessarily devicive factor, incentive pay for a Paramedic was and will continue to be addressed.

January 9, 2009 - In accordance with Article 6 Section 1 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement the IAFF Local 2067 has requested and scheduled a consultation meeting regarding the request by the Fire Chief to the Union in allowing our on-duty paramedics to have protocols set by the Medical Director of Norman Regional Hospital to allow a higher level of medical service to be performed by the Firefighter/Paramedics than our bargaining group is currently authorized to perform on critically ill patients. The meeting will be held on Thursday, March 5, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. in the Building C Conference room at City Hall.