2020

Dear Brothers & Sisters,

On Thursday, January 23, 2020, the Board of Directors of MONOC, historically New Jersey’s largest private, unionized EMS provider, voted unanimously to dissolve their company and transfer their services to other non-union providers. The shutdown of MONOC leaves 300 dedicated emergency medical personnel – International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) union members – out of a job. This decision places profits above service and makes millions of New Jersey residents less safe.

Since 2007, Professional Emergency Medical Services Association (PEMSA) IAFF Local 4610 has represented the over 500 employees of MONOC. These dedicated EMTs, paramedics, critical care nurses, 911 dispatchers and flight medics provided emergency medical services to millions of New Jersey residents across seven counties.

Due to cutbacks and corporate greed, in 2019, these EMS professionals continued to perform their jobs despite having 200 fewer members and a continuing growing call volume. And even though they were under-compensated, and overworked because of the service demands and reduced personnel that MONOC burdened them with, these dedicated union members continued to do what they always did – save lives.

The Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey (PFANJ) believes that our state’s EMS professionals deserve the same opportunities for fair compensation and workplace protections that the rest of the state’s emergency responders have earned. EMS professionals who are IAFF/PFANJ members had the best chance of ensuring those opportunities. Corporate interests have decided, once again, that this should not be the case.

The PFANJ will continue to fight for the fair compensation and workplace protections that all of New Jersey’s EMS professionals deserve. IAFF/PFANJ public safety professionals provide better service to our residents. That high level of service makes us all more safe. It saves lives.

Fraternally and United,

Dominick Marino, President
Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey

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