Day 3: Teamster first responders strike against low wages in CA

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPQa4bdExLJdoovg0CrwpI4BQPqAjxuihKNGpzV5ghYXDYGBrtJpvdvCCICzPPboc62jax1V_6uNgzuL58ksXC8gFEpQnCwnfAghv1ifMFX46Fl7K7aYBUEz8vVNYi1hoeptSRAEK5p0T/s1600/Teamsters+strike+Gold+Cross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPQa4bdExLJdoovg0CrwpI4BQPqAjxuihKNGpzV5ghYXDYGBrtJpvdvCCICzPPboc62jax1V_6uNgzuL58ksXC8gFEpQnCwnfAghv1ifMFX46Fl7K7aYBUEz8vVNYi1hoeptSRAEK5p0T/s400/Teamsters+strike+Gold+Cross.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teamster first responders picketing Gold Cross ambulance.</td></tr></tbody></table>Teamster first responders for Gold Cross Ambulance are on<a href="http://www.kyma.com/slp.php?idN=8646&cat=Local+News"> strike for a third day</a> in their fight for a wage that allows them to feed their families and pay for medical coverage.<br /><br />Sixty of our Teamster brothers and sisters in El Centro, Calif., are standing strong against Gold Cross Ambulance, which pays them starting hourly wages ranging from $8.78 to $9.77<span style="color: #114477; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span> for saving lives as ambulance drivers, EMTs and paramedics. They are members of Teamsters Local 542 in San Diego.<br /><br />Phil Farias, president of Teamsters Local 542, said the Teamsters deserve a fair wage, better benefits and decent working conditions:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">These are dedicated employees who want to do this work, who want to serve their community.</blockquote>The Teamster first responders are joining a wave of strikes engulfing low-wage employers around the country. Labor unrest is escalating this week with a series of shorts strikes against fast-food companies. Hundreds walked off the job at Wendy's, McDonald's and KFC yesterday in New York. Today low-wage workers went on strike in Kansas City and St. Louis, while more workers are expected to strike in Chicago, Detroit and Milwaukee over the next few days.<br /><br />In California, <a href="http://www.kyma.com/slp.php?idN=8646&cat=Local+News" rel="nofollow">KYMA News</a> reports: <br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">Alex Ochoa has been working for Gold Cross Ambulance as a paramedic for 13 years. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">"We're running out on calls--we break down going to a call. Or we have a patient on board--A/C's not working in the back. We're handing them ice packs and apologizing to them," Ochoa said.</blockquote>Despite the 106 degree heat, the employees on strike are out 24 hours a day holding signs near the corner of Imperial Avenue and Vine Street in El Centro.<br /><br />“Our members are strong and they will stay out for as long as it takes to get a fair contract,” Farias said.<br /><br />

Day 3: Teamster first responders strike against low wages in CA

Teamster first responders picketing Gold Cross ambulance. Teamster first responders for Gold Cross Ambulance are on strike for a third day ...

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