Paramedics and emergency medical technicians from across the state are speaking out against Prop 11, as dozens demonstrated at the California State Capitol on Tuesday.
The group says the ballot initiative is deceiving.
Three paramedics and EMT unions protested on the Capitol steps, urging no votes on Proposition 11.
“This initiative is simply about liability protection, that’s what it’s about,” United EMS Workers Executive Director Jason Brollini said. “It’s covered with a lot of fluff, covered with active shooter training, and mental health help.”
According to the ballot, a yes vote on Prop 11 means EMTs would keep the current practice of staying on call during rest or meal breaks. A no vote means they would have to be unreachable on break, because of a 2016 California Supreme Court ruling.
The title and summary of Prop 11 say in part, it would eliminate the private companies’ liability for violating existing law for work breaks in cases pending on or after Oct. 25, 2017.
Opponents say Prop 11 is an attempt to protect the pockets of private ambulance companies like American Medical Response, which has spent millions of dollars backing the ballot initiative.
“Private ambulance companies are for-profit businesses,” Alameda County EMT Danielle Vidal said. “Funding this proposition was a business decision to make them more profitable by not having to pay for their employee’s missed breaks.”
But supporters of Prop 11 say the idea private companies can let EMTs miss breaks without penalty is not true.
“Prop 11 says that if they miss a break and they aren’t able to reschedule it because of an emergency, they’ll get paid for that break,” Yes on 11 spokeswoman Marie Brichetto said.
“If we’re eating and a call goes out, our radios are on, they’re always on, and we will always respond because that’s what we do and that’s who we are,” former paramedic Donnie Fisi said.
As Election Day gets closer, both sides of the ballot measure say the other is putting out misinformation.
Union workers and their private employers are at odds over Proposition 11.
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