Emergency medical responders in Washington County are still without a first contract nearly a year into negotiations with the county’s new ambulance service provider.
Paramedics, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and ambulance dispatchers unionized with Teamsters Local 223 and received voluntary recognition of their union from American Medical Response (AMR) in December 2023, a few months after AMR expanded to Washington County. The county contracted with MetroWest Ambulance, a non-union operation, for decades before switching to AMR.
Local 223 business representative Frank Hiltebrand said most of what the union is seeking in the contract is similar to the existing contract in neighboring counties, but AMR is resisting the union’s proposals.
“We have a clear, well-established working agreement and relationship with AMR in the adjacent counties,” said Hiltebrand, a former AMR paramedic in Multnomah County.
In Washington County, AMR’s starting wage for EMTs is $18.39 per hour. In Multnomah County, under the union contract, AMR’s starting wage for EMTs is $22.57 per hour.
Paramedics, who have far more training than EMTs, make upwards of 150% of the starting EMT rate in Multnomah County.
“Retention after seven years is very, very challenging — and that’s when EMTs start getting good, really good and really confident,” Hiltebrand said.
The Teamsters already represent AMR workers in Multnomah, Clackamas, and Clark counties under one contract, but Washington County workers will get a separate contract. A majority of the 170 Washington County AMR workers previously worked for MetroWest, but they have less than two years tenure as AMR employees.
The union and AMR are scheduled to negotiate on economic issues in mid-November after resolving many of the noneconomic issues.
In a statement emailed to the Labor Press, AMR Oregon regional director Rob McDonald said the company is optimistic about the next stage of negotiations.
