* In the original message to Tom Patierno, Mike Bouser said:
 > Hey, 
 >         That's all good stuff. I never dreamed that things
 > were like that. It sounds like unions might be the way to go. 
 >         Only one problem, and it is an ethical problem. For
 > one thing, in Nashville (TN), they just recently went to
 > pulling 12 hour shifts instead of 24 on, 38 off. This let a
 > few of the old-timers demand back pay (thousands of dollars)
 
It was virtually everyone on the department and tens of thousands of dollars.
 
 > and seriously hindered every one else's opportunity for
 > second jobs. The way they pay aound here, that is a bad
 > thing. To top it off, the ones pushing for the change split,
 > pursuing different careers, etc. Not only are all the young
 > bucks now broke, they have no way to effectively continue
 
I disagree with your position...........if it did anything, it
stopped the mental errors that were occurring between 12M and 6A due to 
mental fatigue on 30th call of the shift.  We have had the creative 
scheduling going for three years now.  I work a 3-14 hour/week schedule and 
average between 25 and 30 calls a tour.  We had to do something...they were 
beating us in the ground with the 24/48 schedule.
It has allowed all who want to pursue an education to get it because most of 
the colleges around us provide the flexible scheduling of classes that plug 
in with the 24 hour schedules.  And it also seems as more medics are working 
parttime jobs these days.  When you get to sleep in your own bed every night 
or at least get quality sleep when you get home, it can't help but be 
conducive to good health and morale.
 
Regards! 
 
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