LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB Fox 41) -- Last Thursday, a group of EMS employees made their presence known by sitting in on a Metro Council meeting, all dressed alike, but never speaking about the issue at hand.
It all comes down to a lack of a contract.
Negotiations first started under Mayor Jerry Abramson and his administration in 2010.
"They weren't known for completing their negotiations on time, and that was one of the reasons we endorsed Mayor Fischer. He said they were laying out there too long and needed to be resolved," says Todd Thomason with Teamsters Local Union 783.
Todd Thomason is the Secretary-Treasurer for the Teamsters Local Union 783, which represents 250 EMS employees.
He says, before Metro Council can approve a new contract, it has to be approved by Mayor Fischer.
Thomason says the contract hasn't been resolved yet, due to financial issues such as pay increases.
"We've been patient, but that relationship is getting strained because it's been 18 months," says Todd Thomason.
Thomason says one issue at hand is that EMS is down 20-25 employees, and the hiring process through Metro government can take anywhere from six months to a year, which he says is too long.
He says that slow process has led to more people volunteering to work overtime and more overtime pay, which the Mayor recently announced he wanted to minimize.
Thomason says just hiring more employees for EMS would drastically cut back on overtime.
Chris Poynter, spokesman with the Mayor's office, says, "We are working with union leaders and are nearing a decision."
Union officials hope that comes sooner, rather than later.
"It's been 18 months. Enough is enough. Let's respond to us in a hastily manner and get this resolved," says Todd Thomason.
Union officials say they hope the contract can be resolved in the next few days.
EMS employees plan to be at Thursday's Metro Council meeting, and a representative is expected to address the contract issue to the Council.
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