Fw: EMSNEWS Digest - 2 Apr 2001 to 3 Apr 2001 (#2001-65)

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NYC - EMS Union Backs Ouster

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> <No internet link available>

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> EMS Union Backs Ouster

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> Michele McPhee

> Daily News Staff Writer

>

> The city's Emergency Medical Service unions have joined other FDNY unions

in

> calling for the resignation of Fire Commissioner Von Essen.

>

> " He has totally destroyed the morale of our 3,000-member service, " said

> Uniformed EMS Officers union President Rothchild. " He is so eager

to

> take credit for what has gone right in the department; he has to take some

> responsibility for what has gone wrong. "

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> Last week, Uniformed Fire Officers Association President Gorman

called

> for Von Essen's resignation, saying he is unfit to lead the department.

>

> The FDNY has been rattled by dissent in recent months over a dispute that

> started over the transfer of two high-ranking and well-respected chiefs

who

> admittedly handed in 30 photocopies of the same personnel evaluation.

>

> The union's battle gained momentum late last month, when the department

was

> forced to temporarily table a $33 million upgrade of its hand-held radios.

> The radios were plagued with bugs and were pulled out of firehouses

citywide

> after a firefighter's Mayday cries went unheard after he became lost in a

> Queens house fire.

>

> Rothchild has joined by Bahnken, president of the EMT and

Paramedic

> union.

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> " He {Von Essen} needs to go, " Bahnken said. " He's incompetent. "

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> The Fire Department yesterday released a statement saying: " The EMS union

> would better serve their members by concentrating on improving benefits

and

> pay through collective bargaining. "

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>

>

> ****************************************************

> M. Maniscalco

> p.maniscalco.1@...

> ****************************************************

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> End of EMSNEWS Digest - 2 Apr 2001 to 3 Apr 2001 (#2001-65)

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