Leaders of an emergency medical services workers union say a years-long contract stalemate and low pay have decimated the spirits and ranks of the FDNY\u2019s ambulance crews, sparking longer wait times for first responders.<\/p>\n
The workers have been embroiled in negotiations with the FDNY \u2014 which oversees both firefighters and EMS \u2014 since their contract expired three years ago.<\/p>\n
Anthony Almojera, an FDNY EMS lieutenant and leader of an officers\u2019 union, said morale is so low among his colleagues that 14 members have committed suicide since 2020. He said pay is so low that many workers border on homelessness and he\u2019s keeping tabs on roughly 40 other EMS workers who have also expressed a desire to harm themselves.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd those are just all the people who have had the courage to reach out \u2014 there are others,\u201d Almojera said. \u201cAnd I know that for a fact because I\u2019ve been down that road.\u201d<\/p>\n
Almojera said the feelings of desperation and isolation in his line of work led him to sit alone in his own bathtub, with a knife, just four years earlier. He said he was able to pull himself out because of the knowledge of how many other people depend on him.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople are not able to make it here and it’s starting to push into our mental health, physical health,\u201d said Almojera, who added he\u2019s seen lieutenants demote themselves because the stress and paltry pay \u2014 even with a higher rank \u2014 isn\u2019t worth it.<\/p>\n
Some EMS workers make as little as $36,330 during the first few months with salaries<\/a> capped at $76,028 after five years.<\/p>\n Almojera said the latter number is reserved for paramedics \u2014 who have the highest levels of training and ability \u2014\u00a0 and that EMTs make $59,800 at most.<\/p>\n Firefighters make $54,122 to start, and top out at $105,146 after five years, excluding fringe, overtime and holiday pay, as listed on the FDNY\u2019s website.<\/a><\/p>\n Talks between the workers and the city remain at a standstill because EMS union leaders have made several demands, including higher wages \u2014 on par with what firefighters and other uniformed personnel make in the city.<\/p>\n The EMS workers\u2019 unions are also asking FDNY to revamp its benefits package, including lowering the age that a worker can retire.<\/p>\n Zach Nosanchuck, a spokesperson for Mayor Eric Adams, said the mayor created a wellness support fund for EMS workers and that city negotiators were working to reach a fair contract with the union.<\/p>\n \u201cEMS workers have made countless sacrifices to keep New Yorkers safe, and New York City owes them a debt of gratitude,\u201d Nosanchuck wrote in a statement. \u201cThis job is difficult, and they deserve our utmost respect and resources to support their health and wellness.\u201d<\/p>\n The city\u2019s inability to retain enough emergency workers is contributing to the growing response times<\/a> for ambulances, according to lawmakers \u2014 which can mean the difference between life and death when some New Yorkers are in a crisis.<\/p>\n The yearslong wait for a resolution has become so dire that the FDNY EMS unions filed<\/a> a class action discrimination lawsuit against the fire department, alleging that the contract impasse is because of a bias towards the workforce, which is largely composed of women and people of color.<\/p>\n Last week, Almojera went as far as to suggest that EMS remove itself from the FDNY and exist as its own entity<\/a>.<\/p>\n