September 20, 2006 – Plantation, FL Local 4430, which represents paramedics and other emergency workers, won a Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) lawsuit against the City of Plantation mandating that the City immediately pay paramedics for a 40-hour work week and pay overtime for work in excess of 40 hours.

The members of Local 4430 are employed in the Rescue Division of the Plantation Fire Department as full-time employees performing solely emergency medical services as EMTs, paramedics and rescue lieutenants. Plantation has all volunteer fire fighters.

Since Local 4430 was organized in 2005, the City has threatened, intimidated and discriminated against members of the Plantation Professional Paramedics and EMTs for leading a fight to make sure that the City’s EMS workers get paid for the hours they work. Since Local 4430 members have no authority or responsibility regarding fire fighting activities, under FLSA law, they must be paid overtime compensation after 40 hours in a 48-hour work week.

“The City of Plantation was trying to cheat these emergency workers out of pay they’ve earned working and protecting its citizens,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. “We fought back, assisting our local through the IAFF Guardian Policy, and now our members will get what they are owed for their service.”

IAFF 12th District Vice President Dominick Barbera told the South Florida Sun Sentinal, “It was important to win this case because it showed the City that they cannot have disregard for the law and not pay their employees properly.”

IAFF legal counsel, Woodley & McGillivary, is representing Plantation Local 4430 and will meet with City officials to determine the amount of back pay owed.

In addition to the FLSA lawsuit, other Local 4430 paramedics have filed a second lawsuit – which is still pending – fighting the City’s violations of their right to form a union. “We expect to send this anti-union City government a clear message when all is said and done in this second case -- if you mess with the rights of IAFF members, we’re going to come right back at you with the full force of this International Union,” says Schaitberger.