New York's Poorest

[Zephyr]

Please read this newspaper article about the plight of New York's Poorest-- FDNY EMS EMTs and Paramedics, and vote in the survey. Thanks!

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2008/06/02/2008-06-02_emts_drive_home_plea_for_more_pay-2.html

[DrParasite]

Why do you think they have trouble keeping employees?

27,000 a year starting. now compare that to the salary of a suppression firefighter. both are entry level positions.

many suppression FDNY employees like OT because it gives them a little extra money in the paycheck, and the OT is generally scheduled weeks or months in advances.

many FDNY EMS employees need OT because their base salary doesn't allow them to put food on the table. Not only that, but they are often forced to do OT, and can be reprimanded for not doing it. Not to mention that many FDNY EMS personnel work 2nd jobs to make ends meet (often for another ambulance service) and forcing OT can jepardize those jobs.

anyone else wonder why EMS is thought of as the bastard step child of FDNY?

btw, so far the poll is 98% in favor of them getting raises and 2% against.

[emt161]

Another successful Fire-EMS "merger." :rolleyes:

[edpmedic]

That's exactly why I left NY. I worked both BLS/ALS for a voluntary hospital. I considered doing FDNY EMS, as I love paramedicine(worked 46 Young T1 for two years), but the mandations and low pay made me reconsider. Charleston Co. EMS paid well, $44,000/yr after 6 months, 24/48 schedule, and plenty of OT. The problem is, you can be mandated(forced) to stay for up to 24 additional hours. Their buses are busy, so working a forced 48/24 schedule can be absolutely miserable. If you don't mind running into burning buildings, there are high paying firefighter/firemedic positions in MD/DC/NoVa. There's typically no ceiling on age requirements. I'm in NoVa now, and will be pulling in about $65000/yr before OT after finishing the academy as a firemedic. If I wasn't married, I think I would have kept a per diem gig at my old job, just for kicks. It's just sad that one has to relocate just to have a decent standard of living.

[edpmedic]

That's exactly why I left NY. I worked both BLS/ALS for a voluntary hospital. I considered doing FDNY EMS, as I love paramedicine(worked 46 Young T1 for two years), but the mandations and low pay made me reconsider. Charleston Co. EMS paid well, $44,000/yr after 6 months, 24/48 schedule, and plenty of OT. The problem is, you can be mandated(forced) to stay for up to 24 additional hours. Their buses are busy, so working a forced 48/24 schedule can be absolutely miserable. If you don't mind running into burning buildings, there are high paying firefighter/firemedic positions in MD/DC/NoVa. There's typically no ceiling on age requirements. I'm in NoVa now, and will be pulling in about $65000/yr before OT after finishing the academy as a firemedic. If I wasn't married, I think I would have kept a per diem gig at my old job, just for kicks. It's just sad that one has to relocate just to have a decent standard of living.

[Zephyr]

edpmedic,

Thanks for the info :)