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Ambulance service: Would the union renegotiate? Would the city?

By Howard B. Owens

Part 2 of the Daily's FAQ on ambulance service is up.

I'm posing about it only because I get a little bugged when I see people not answering questions.  In this case, it's Greg Ireland:

To fire department union President Greg Ireland, would the union renegotiate its current contract to lessen the cost to the city?

Mallow and the union signed a contract on Sept. 4, 2007, that ran through March 2010, Ireland said, noting that at the time, Mallow was quoted as saying "every single thing that was brought up previously by council, we addressed with them."


"We have an agreement with the city to establish a labor-management committee to discuss concerns ... and the city has not approached the union to discuss any concerns they have with our current contract," Ireland said.

Notice that Ireland doesn't answer a very simple yes or no question. He obfuscates by pushing it back on the city, saying the city never asked.  But the question wasn't, "Did the city ask you?" It was, "would you?"

There's logical question back for Charlie Mallow: If the union were willing to renegotiate, would the city reconsider its position?

And is it simply too late to even consider such questions?

Lori Ann Santini

Mr Owen - You have to realize that Greg can't just arbitrarily say yes or no to the question because he can't make that decision alone. The City as far as I know has not made the request. Without a request, Greg can't come to the entire union body and ask if we would like to consider a change in the contract. It would have to be voted on by the body. You are asking for Greg to put the cart before the horse.

You make Greg look like a bad person when all he has done is fight for the safety of every person who lives in the city and for us the people who provide the ambulance service. If that is the type of character person that " bugs" you then I am sorry. You are missing out on one truly good person.

Mar 7, 2009, 11:07am Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Well, he could then say, "that's really a question for the union to decide," instead of turning it around on the council.

I'm not taking sides here, not trying to make him look like a bad guy, just saying it was kind of a dodgy answer. I'd rather see a straight forward answer to a straight forward question.

Mar 7, 2009, 12:17pm Permalink
Lori Ann Santini

Quite frankly, people don't always come up with the perfect answer when put on the spot. It is much easier to write then proof read an written comment then correct a spoken one stated incorrectly.

Mar 7, 2009, 12:36pm Permalink
Karen Miconi

So everyone" Who got the raises last night at the Charlie Mallow Stimulus meeting?? What a Mockery! Seems to me there's only one thing on their mind, money. Oh and weren't we told we would never have water rate increases?? How many times has our water bill been raised?? So let me get this straight. Batavia couldn't afford the ambulance, fixing our city streets {well except Naramore},now non union members are getting a raise???? This is what I woke up to. WBTA's coverage of the shouting match last night at the council meeting.
Am I correct???
This town is going to hell in a handcart. So Charlie got to shoot down other members of the council again. I just don't understand where their priorities lie??? I can't beleive this is all our council members could discuss, and vote on. Was there nothing else that was more important then someone getting to line their pockets some more, at the expence of "US" the taxpayers, in these hard times. UNREAL!

Cawww Cawww- watch out folks Charlie, Beth and Andy should be swooping in soon to eat their kill, me LOL

Mar 10, 2009, 8:41am Permalink

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