By Christopher Cartwright
The Keene Sentinel
SWANZEY, N.H. 鈥� Emergency medical service workers for Cheshire County鈥檚 EMS service have voted unanimously to unionize, according to a news release Thursday from Teamsters Local 633 in Manchester.
Thirty emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics are joining Local 633, which represents more than 5,200 workers across the state, the union said.
鈥淲e are excited to join the Teamsters,鈥� John Williams, an EMT with Cheshire County EMS, said in the release. 鈥淭he Teamsters鈥� long history of supporting workers and strong representation 鈥� including at other departments in Cheshire County 鈥� was a big factor in why we voted to organize.鈥�
Cheshire EMS鈥檚 launch in November 2022 came about a year after the county announced plans to acquire the private Keene-based DiLuzio Ambulance Service. That deal fell through in April 2022, but the county moved forward with its own service, using federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to construct its headquarters in Swanzey, purchase equipment and help subsidize the first three years of service costs for contracted towns.
The county service became the primary provider for some area towns following the closure of DiLuzio Ambulance in early May.
鈥淐heshire County is the first county-run EMS facility in New England, and now they are the first unionized county-run facility in New England,鈥� Secretary-Treasurer of Local 633 Jeffrey Padellaro said in the release. 鈥淲e look forward to working alongside our new brothers and sisters at Cheshire County EMS and securing an industry-leading contract for them.鈥�
Cheshire County Administrator Chris Coates said the vote did not catch him by surprise.
鈥淭he County has had a relationship with the Teamsters Local 633 for years. It has been healthy and strong as they represent the corrections officers at the Department of Corrections, and also the Sheriff鈥檚 deputies and dispatchers,鈥� he wrote in an email Friday morning.
鈥淲e鈥檝e known since the development of Cheshire EMS the Teamsters were looking to expand their membership.
鈥淭his relationship will help us to continue to build Cheshire EMS鈥� high quality of service and care, and we look forward to a strong continued working relationship.鈥�
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