A third of NYC EMS workers intend to resign over disparities in pay, according to union representatives.

The impending loss of over one-third of New York City’s emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics underscores a troubling trend linked to significant pay disparities within the Fire Department of New York (FDNY). Union leaders voiced their concerns during a recent City Council budget hearing, where they highlighted the precarious financial state of many EMTs, with some resorting to living in homeless shelters due to inadequate salaries.

Oren Barzilay, president of EMS Local 2507, indicated that approximately 1,500 EMS professionals are projected to resign from the service within the year, representing a staggering proportion of the workforce, which totals 4,369 members. The current compensation rates make these first responders the lowest-paid in the city across all five boroughs.

The ramifications of this potential personnel exodus could be severe, particularly concerning response times for medical emergencies, which have already increased by over two minutes since 2021. As 80% of 911 calls handled by the FDNY are for medical emergencies, the decline in personnel could exacerbate delays, jeopardizing timely interventions for those in critical need.

The plight of EMS workers is further compounded by their starting salaries, which begin at approximately ,386 per year—significantly less than their firefighting counterparts who earn around ,196 upon finishing their training. This discrepancy contributes to an environment whereby EMS personnel feel undervalued, as their starting wages may be comparable to those of entry-level positions in other sectors, such as fast-food establishments.

With contract negotiations ongoing between EMS unions and City Hall, Barzilay, alongside Vincent Variale, president of the Uniformed Emergency Medical Service Officers Union, has appealed to the City Council for increased salaries. They assert that the current economic conditions are untenable for first responders, who play a vital role in safeguarding public health.

This appeal for pay parity comes as the city recognizes the 30th anniversary of the merger between EMS and the FDNY, a historical event that has yet to resolve underlying issues of equity in compensation. Past suggestions from the City Council to enhance the FDNY budget by an additional million to support salary increases for EMS personnel have yet to materialize into significant change.

As the urgency for reform grows, calls to improve facilities for the FDNY and enhance firefighter teams highlight the broader need for systemic improvements within the emergency services framework in New York City. Council officials stress that addressing compensation and structural deficiencies is imperative for maintaining a robust emergency response system capable of meeting the needs of a rapidly evolving urban environment.

The conversations among city officials indicate a recognition of the critical importance of properly funding and supporting EMS teams to ensure that they can continue to fulfill their vital role in New York’s public health infrastructure. Proper investment in these services is not only a matter of fiscal responsibility but fundamentally tied to the health and safety of all New Yorkers.