GREENFIELD — With a tentative contract agreement in hand, American Medical Response (AMR) and Teamsters Local 404 union have averted a 10-day strike that was slated to go into effect on Sunday, Nov. 24.

The union had previously approved the strike on Thursday, Nov. 14, after they and AMR of Greenfield and Springfield failed to reach a contract agreement. The union opted for the strike while attempting to negotiate with the ambulance service for retroactive pay to May 1 and a clause that would have allowed first responders the right to refuse to cross a picket line.

Teamsters Local 404 President Bryan Donovan Jr. said the strike has been called off, pending a ratification vote, and union members are “very happy with the deal.” The ratification vote for the four-year contract, dating back to May 1, is likely to take place sometime after Thanksgiving, as paperwork needs to be sorted out during the holiday week.

“AMR gave us a couple of things last minute that made it a very amicable deal,” Donovan said. “It was a very tough negotiation that I feel lasted far too long. A lot of the things we gained out of this were due to the company’s bad behavior, and I am very happy that we corrected much of that and got these people what they deserve and what they asked for.”

Ultimately, Donovan said the tentative contract will provide retroactive pay back to May, while picket line language was adopted from a Hartford, Connecticut, AMR contract, which “allows for the flexibility of first responders to react to the situation in a proper fashion.”

Other highlights in the contract, Donovan added, include pay increases of 25% to 30% for “pretty much everybody,” “good language” for overtime wages and additional benefits for part-time employees, such as holidays.

“We got some really great wages — the wages were far too low to begin with,” Donovan said, adding that these pay increases bring AMR’s EMTs and paramedics closer to the industry standard. “I think they’re all going to be very satisfied with their wages.”

The company employs about 200 people between its Greenfield and Springfield bases and provides ambulance services to Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden counties.

AMR Regional Director Patrick Leonardo announced the tentative contract agreement in a statement Thursday afternoon. The statement said the union informed the company that it will recommend the settlement to its membership for ratification.

“AMR holds the unwavering dedication of our EMTs and paramedics in the highest regard. Their work is crucial to the health and safety of our Springfield and Greenfield communities, and their commitment to saving lives and delivering critical care is nothing short of heroic,” Leonardo said in the statement. “This is why we are proud to offer them a new contract that includes increased economic benefits that represent their essential contributions. The agreed upon contract supports our employees and guarantees that residents continue to receive the vital care they depend on.”

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com.