Q&A
EMS staffing challenges and ongoing contract negotiations
0:51:25
·
112 sec
Council Member Brewer inquires about EMS staffing issues, retention challenges, and the status of union contract negotiations. Chief Fields responds while acknowledging limitations on what he can discuss.
- FDNY is currently in contract negotiations with EMS unions (Local 2507 and 3621)
- Chief Fields emphasizes the excellent work of EMS personnel but notes contract negotiations are not within his purview
- Brewer suggests advocating for better compensation to address retention issues
- Fields highlights the scale of EMS operations: 4,100 assignments daily, 1.6 million calls annually, and over 1 million transports
Gale Brewer
0:51:25
Okay.
0:51:25
The other question I have was about staffing.
0:51:27
So when is the the union contract is how long is it until when the ongoing issue we hear about staffing is and you heard there was retention.
0:51:38
I think retention is probably because of the salary.
0:51:40
So when is the next bargaining?
0:51:42
Is that something that the city should be stating?
0:51:45
We need more funding for our staff.
0:51:48
Now that's not your job.
0:51:49
That's an issue with OLR.
0:51:51
I understand that, but we all should be advocating for that.
0:51:54
It seems to me.
0:51:55
What's the status with allocating or, you know, in the bargaining table more money for your amazing, amazing staff.
Michael Fields
0:52:05
So so we are currently inside of contract negotiations with both local 25073621.
0:52:13
I I would like to echo the last thing that you said that my staff is amazing.
0:52:17
They are wonderful EMTs, paramedics, and officers.
0:52:22
But contract negotiations, unfortunately, is not my purview.
0:52:27
It is
Gale Brewer
0:52:27
You could talk about it, though, and advocate.
Michael Fields
0:52:30
Oh, we advocate I advocate quite often in respects to the great work that these men and women do daily.
0:52:38
44100 assignments a day, 100,617,000 calls they do every year, and it's going up, 1000000, 100,000 transports.
0:52:51
So I have family that's in the city, and any one of them that shows up to save one of my family members.
0:52:56
Can I put a price on that?
0:52:58
Absolutely not.
0:52:59
My mother is priceless.
0:53:00
So that is how I advocate as best as possible.
0:53:03
I support them with the initiatives that they need, but Unfortunately, contract negotiations isn't up to the FDNY.
Gale Brewer
0:53:10
Okay.
0:53:10
I wanna thank Kjell to member Joseph, Elise, and Rivera for being here and turn it over to back to the chair again.
