By DAVID SEIFMAN
May 16, 2008
The Emergency Medical Service will have to use overtime to fill its shifts because of a shortage of EMTs, Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta revealed yesterday.
Testifying at a City Council budget hearing, Scoppetta said he expects to operate the ambulance corps with 121 slots unfilled during the busy summer season.
About 80 EMTs and paramedics are leaving for higher paying jobs as firefighters.
"We'll be able to deal with it. We always have people working on overtime within EMS," said Scoppetta.
"It's hard to recruit EMTs, and that's where we really have to focus our efforts."
Pat Bahnken, president of Local 2507, which represents about 2,700 EMTs and paramedics, said the attrition rate is a "horrific" 20 percent because salaries start at $27,00 and top out at $54,000 after 20 years.
"I can work as a garbage man and make 30 percent more," he said.
The union has been without a contract since June 2006, and Bahnken warned a crisis is in the making.
"I think Nick Scoppetta is playing a very dangerous game here because he may have to eat his words [about coping with fewer personnel]," said Bahnken.
