Local 294 Launches New Video Series to Educate Members

Members of IAEP Local R1-294 Hunters Ambulance have launched SIREN, a media venture designed to bring relevant news and critical information to the bargaining unit employees of the union.

Local 294 Vice President Sean Thompson, Shop Steward Elena Gaughan and member Alex Darlington, who release the videos under the moniker Union T.H.U.G Productions, kicked off the venture this week with the release of SIREN's pilot episode on YouTube.

The video, hosted by Thompson and Gaughan, covers a mix of Local 294-specific updates, general union information, and state and national news that impacts the field of EMS. Topics range from local contract negotiations developments to a 911 dispatchers bill that passed in the state to peer support group resources available for members.

Thompson, Gaughan and Darlington, who collectively have over 25 years experience in multimedia production and over 40 years experience in EMS, pioneered these videos as a way to better service union members through online communications and spotlight to members some of the good work that the union is doing that they may not otherwise hear about.

"Bargaining Unit Employees traditionally suffer from a lack of readily available information," said Thompson. "SIREN seeks to afford the members opportunity to stay in-the-know regarding relevant information, opportunities, and events within their union, community, or field of employment."

Union T.H.U.G hopes to continue to regularly release episodes of SIREN to keep Local 294 members informed, as well as to eventually expand the venture to service the same needs of every local throughout the union.

You can view the pilot episode of SIREN below!