County Council will debate money for fifth medic unit's training

PETER JENSEN - THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

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Six firefighters from Whatcom County Fire District No. 7 began training at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle Oct. 1 so they can staff a fifth Whatcom Medic One ambulance unit.

Their union, the International Association of Fire Fighters, has ordered them to stop because of an ongoing dispute between the local unions representing District 7 employees, Local 3855, and Bellingham Fire Department employees, Local 106, over who has the right to staff the fifth unit.

On Tuesday, Oct. 7, Whatcom County Council members will have a chance to voice their opinion on which side they favor.

They've been asked to approve $331,000 to help offset the cost of training those firefighters.

"I do believe this is important," council member Barbara Brenner said. "We would be violating our responsibility to the voters if we don't approve money for this part of the plan."

This fifth unit was a key part of the Emergency Medical Services plan that county residents voted to fund in 2005.

Brenner said she's received a lot of calls from members of each local union, and expects a strong turnout at the meeting.

Local 3855 members will argue that they own the work because the EMS plan specifically states that the fifth unit would be staffed with "employees of Whatcom County Fire District 7."

Local 106 members will counter that the work belongs to them because it always has. Since Whatcom Medic One began in 1974, every unit has been staffed with Bellingham Fire Department paramedics.

The IAFF ruled in Local 106's favor Sept. 24. Members of Local 3855 will meet next week to decide to obey the ruling, ignore it or leave the union, President Mark Kuhl said.

The $331,000 will pay for the six firefighters' housing, travel and utilities expenses. It will also pay for the wages of three entry-level firefighters who will partially backfill empty positions at District 7.

District 7 will pay for the six trainees' wages, benefits and supplies. It also received a $110,000 grant from the King County Medic One Foundation that will pay for instructional training.