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Q&A
EMS wages, pay parity, and retention challenges
1:36:29
ยท
37 sec
Council Member Ariola raises concerns about EMS wages, pay parity, and retention challenges. She suggests that low wages are forcing EMS workers to become firefighters for financial reasons, even if they prefer EMS work.
- EMS workers are struggling to sustain families on their current wages
- The council has been advocating for pay parity for EMS workers
- Ariola suggests that improving wages could help with retention in EMS ranks
- Commissioner Tucker acknowledges the importance of career EMTs and paramedics to the department and the city
Joann Ariola
1:36:29
Do you think that it's because of the EMS wages, pay parity?
1:36:33
I know EMS workers that want to make this their career.
1:36:36
They don't want to become firefighters, but they have no choice because they cannot sustain a family and be providers while making the money that EMS workers make.
1:36:46
And we've been crying pay parity for a very long time.
Robert Tucker
1:36:49
Yeah.
Joann Ariola
1:36:49
So is that part of your discussion for retention?
1:36:53
Because that would be the best way to close the gap is if there was retention in the ranks.
Robert Tucker
1:36:57
We we have some sorry.
1:36:59
We have some fabulous career EMTs and paramedics.
1:37:04
God bless you.
Joann Ariola
1:37:05
God bless you.
Robert Tucker
1:37:06
Many many of whom, you know, we we rely on and the city relies on heavily.