Today the Detroit News detailed individuals that have lost ears due to the extreme cold temperatures that have prevailed here in January. Everyone is aware of the challenges and failures of the department to provide DEMS medics with uniforms. The department has provided 2 uniform pants and shirts to members over the past 6 years. How do you enforce a grievance with a bankrupt city that is not obligated to settle a grievance or pay its bills? In the past we were advised that there were more important bills to be paid. Management in the past would look the other way during periods of extreme weather relative to uniforms so workers would remain warm. The EMS management changed 4 years ago. This same EMS management charged a medic for giving a displaced male, in his underwear, after a house fire in the winter, A BLANKET. The EMS management over the last 4 years went from a support and leadership role, to that of tormentor of field personnel. DEMS management who used to carry rescue equipment to respond on their units, now do not, and refuse to perform medical work. There is a major disconnect between the EMS administration and the field staffing. We set a record for cold temperatures today and our management was in the field enforcing a Garrison uniform policy. Medics were especially angered by the supervisor picking them apart for the Nike Swish or Under Armour on their turtle neck. One medic did not have a department issued parade coat (Thank you to the Interim Commissioner for getting him a coat) ...As we do not have turnouts or extrication coats. They have been on order for years, and EMS management lost all of the sizes of our members. Medic 9 was held over 2 hours and left in the elements last night after running all day. Management cant find a way to get field techs off, however they can harass medics about a swish with -30 F temperatures. Correspondence was drafted and sent to the administration last week outlining the absence of a uniform policy for extreme climates, and the obligation of the employer to provide the proper gear. It is obvious that the management of DEMS does not care about the health and welfare of the employees they are tasked with leading. They have proven they would withhold a blanket to a naked man in the elements. This all needs to stop! If you cannot provide the necessary gear, then ease your garrison uniform requirements and call off the Storm Troopers. If every supervisor went home tonight, runs would still get answered and units would still respond. We do not have a team here at DEMS and we have failed. We have failed due to the absence of leadership and a not having a plan. Someone needs to hold management accountable.
Posted on: Wed, 29 Jan 2014 02:41:55 +0000
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