Esposito says recruitment and contract talks are key to rebuilding EMS
Esposito says FDNY must replace members who left EMS for firefighter positions or due to wages and schedules, and recruitment has become harder since COVID-19. He says the EMT union is negotiating with the city and hopes a contract resolution will boost recruiting.
We are pursuing numerous adjustments and innovations to address the ongoing challenges with response times.
We know that building up EMS staffing is a key part of this issue.
We need to replace the members who have left EMS to become firefighters and other EMS members who have left.
Due to issues with wages, schedules, or for their own reasons.
Recruiting has become more difficult since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The union that represents the department's EMTs is currently at the negotiating table with the city's Office of Labor Relations, and we are hopeful that a resolution to the next contract will provide a recruiting boost.
Restoring staffing is a large piece of the puzzle, but it is not the only way we are attacking this problem.