Dispatcher Unions

[mark440]

Disclaimer: I've already searched the forums and am not satisfied with the results I've found.

Does anyone lurking in the forum have any information on Dispatcher Unions? Any dispatchers here MEMBERS of Union?
Please PM me or post here.

Thank you!
*Mark

[efd1524]

Around here the local police departments cover all the dispatching and the dispatchers are part of the police union.

[KenNFD1219]

The dispatchers on my FD are part of the firefighters union, but are not considered emergency personnel. This is the result of a lawsuit and affect how they are paid overtime. The police dispatchers have thier own union, seperate from the police officers.

[mark440]

With being members of the IAFF can you tell me how that works? Are your dispatchers JUST fire/ems dispatchers or are they PD/FD/EMS?
I'm a former IAFF (Career Firefighter) member and now a dispatcher again. The City I work for is great, but I think an organization is a good thing. Not looking to pursue anything or file anything, just want to establish it just in case it is needed in the future for anyone.

*Mark

[KenNFD1219]

For many years we assigned a fire fighter to dispatch. Nine years ago the union negotiated to hire "civilian dispatchers". The dispatchers are in the fire union and wear the same work uniforms as the fire fighters. Our dispatchers only do fire dispatch. The police department receives the 911 calls and either transfers fire calls to us or calls with the information. EMS dispatch is done by a regional dispatch center in a neighboring town. The fire dispatchers get the benefits of the union contract, i.e. medical, pension, etc. as well as a section that covers their specific function. They work the same shift as the FD, 3 days on, 3 days off, 3 nights on, 3 day off.

[mark440]

Nine years ago the union negotiated to hire "civilian dispatchers". The dispatchers are in the fire union and wear the same work uniforms as the fire fighters. Our dispatchers only do fire dispatch. The police department receives the 911 calls and either transfers fire calls to us or calls with the information. EMS dispatch is done by a regional dispatch center in a neighboring town. The fire dispatchers get the benefits of the union contract, i.e. medical, pension, etc. as well as a section that covers their specific function. They work the same shift as the FD, 3 days on, 3 days off, 3 nights on, 3 day off.

Do you know how this would work for a PD/FD/EMS all-round dispatcher? We dispatch for everything except a University PD in a County of 100K residents.

*Mark

[KenNFD1219]

Mark:

That would be up to the union and the city. They can agree to almost any working condition or stipulation, as long as it is legal. Have you approached the local fire fighters union about joining or contacted the IAFF for asistance? You most likely have a state IAFF association, they may be your best source of information.

[mark440]

I've called the Local president, we just haven't been able to get together so I could discuss it with him.
I wanted to approach the local first before I go to the state so that I don't step on toes or offend anyone first.

Thanks!
*Mark

[Weruj1]

Mark..I dont know if this helps or not ............I work for a county EMS agency and we are unionized. Toledo Fire has civilian dispatchers and they are also covered by a union contract. ......hope this helps.

[Dickey]

Dispatchers vary greatly even from city to city, not to mention state to state.

Here, I am a full time dispatcher with my County dispatch center. We dispatch for all 18 law enforcement, fire and EMS agencies in the county. We are members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA Union) This is the same union as the telephone operators. Not sure how it started that we got to be part of that but it works I guess.

Most dispatchers are part of the union of the agency they work for from what I have found.

[DeputyChiefGonzo]

The dispatchers in our public safety communication center are represented by the Marlborough Clerical Employees Union. The MCEU covers the clerical workers in the schools, City Hall, City departments, the building maintenance staffs and public safety dispatchers. They used to be a local of the SEIU, but decertified (a total lack of support from the parent organization) and went on their own.

[OFDfireman101]

In Orlando our dispatchers are part of our local, with a seperate contract. They only dispatch calls for the FD, I'm not sure about the dispatchers for the PD.

[fieldseng2]

Without having it right in front of me to read word for word...

Article II of the Constitution and ByLaws of the IAFF...... "Anyone who is a full-time employee of the fire department.......fire suppression, EMS, rescue, OR RELATED SERVICES...can become a member."

According to my local's website, our dispatchers are members too.

My old dept. where I was Local President...the dispatchers were full time employees of the police dept. and members of the FOP.

[oldandwise071]

The dispatchers in our department are a part of our local however they have there own contract since they are calssified differently.

www.woodlandsfire.org

[MrJim911]

The dispatchers in our public safety communication center are represented by the Marlborough Clerical Employees Union.

Ugggg...... A clerical union? *sigh*