Williston paramedics unionize; city upset by move
Thirteen of the 15 full-time paramedics in Williston have formed a union, a move that has deeply upset city officials.
The Williston Herald reports the paramedics have formed a local chapter with the International Association of Fire Fighters, which represents nearly 300,000 firefighters and first responders in the United States and Canada.
The paramedics argue they felt "underutilized." They say most of them have training in firefighting and could help the city in greater capacity.
City Commissioner Tate Cymbaluk says those who want to be in a union should grab their belongings and move somewhere else. He argues that North Dakota is a non-union state.
The association's general president has sent a letter to Cymbaluk saying state law allows public employees to unionize.
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