BREMERTON — Bremerton Ambulance workers, voting for a second
time, have turned down the prospect of union representation.
The vote was around 23 to 15, according to Kim Doyle, Bremerton
Ambulance executive director.
The vote was Thursday, and followed a hotly contested election on
March 1 in which union representatives alleged the company unduly
swayed the outcome by preventing four workers in its outlying
stations to come to the main office in Bremerton to vote.
Doyle said that was not true.
The initial vote failed by three, 19 to 16.
The International Association of EMTs and Paramedics filed an
objection with the National Labor Relations Board, and a second
vote was held.
Bremerton Ambulance employs about 50 workers including emergency
medical technicians, paramedics, dispatchers, nurses, shift
supervisors and training officers.
The workers had a union in the past, but have been without one in
recent years.
Layoffs at the end of the year and the fear they could be next
appeared to be part of what fueled consideration of a union.
— Rachel Pritchett
