UFA Vows Opposition
FDNY Again Seeks Fire/EMS Blending

By GINGER ADAMS OTIS

A controversial plan to shift supervisory responsibilities between fire and Emergency Medical Service officers that raised hackles among the affected unions when it was revealed last year has resurfaced in the Fire Department's Strategic Plan for 2007-2008.

STEPHEN J. CASSIDY: Ready to oppose.

It's one of several sweeping operational changes outlined in the FDNY's recently released wish list, which also includes the creation of Paramedic Rescue Engines and talks about evaluating "the feasibility of changing the Firefighter open-competitive examination to require Emergency Medical Technician certification as an entry requirement for this position."

Leg Up for Paramedics?

The FDNY also wants to consider bonus points for firefighter candidates who are Paramedics, and would change the promotional requirements so that incoming EMS members would have to keep their EMT and Paramedic certifications even after becoming Firefighters.

According to the FDNY Strategic Plan, Firefighter/Paramedics and Firefighter/EMTs would be used to staff five-firefighter rescue engines.

PETER L. GORMAN: Haven't given us details.

"The Firefighter/Paramedic would be able to operate in contaminated and dangerous environments to perform lifesaving advanced medical care and rescue," the plan says. "PREs would respond to life-threatening medical emergencies, similar to CFR-D, but would have the additional benefit of providing a higher level of pre-hospital care."

But a spokesman for Uniformed Firefighters' Association President Stephen J. Cassidy said the union would oppose creating hybrid titles.

'Won't Let Them Do It'

"This plan was not discussed with us in advance, but the FDNY also knows that it would have to negotiate the issue with us," said Tom Butler. "We're not interested in Paramedic Rescue Engines, and the FDNY can't just create them without negotiating with all the unions involved."

An FDNY spokesman said such changes were still in the developmental phase.

"There are many proposals and many ideas contained within the Strategic Plan for 2007-2008. This is one of them," said Anthony Sclafani.

The FDNY already has several Firefighters who are trained EMTs and Paramedic, however. These former EMS workers transferred into the fire service off promotional lists.

TOM EPPINGER: Determined to head off plan.

EMS unions have complained about the FDNY poaching from its chronically understaffed work force to increase diversity among firefighting ranks, but some sources said that's not the only reason the department has tried to recruit from within. Medical runs comprise 40 percent of its annual workload, and the FDNY has seen the efficacy of having firefighters with medical training.

Would Need New Exam

EMTs and Paramedics can currently transfer into the firefighting ranks in unlimited numbers as long as they pass the civil service test granting them the title of Firefighter. The FDNY couldn't create a new hybrid title encompassing both job descriptions without first working with the Department of Citywide Administrative Services to develop civil service entrance exams for the position.

The city would also have to negotiate with District Council 37 Local 2507, which represents Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics, and the UFA. Both unions are opposed to the idea.

FDNY plans to shift some supervisory responsibilities from EMS officers in the field to fire officers could be more readily implemented, sources said.

That move likely would not involve creating new job titles within the civil service system, sources said, but would change job descriptions, which must be bargained with the unions.

Short on Specifics

Peter L. Gorman, president of the Uniformed Fire Officers' Association and Thomas Eppinger, president of DC 37 Local 3621, which represents EMS officers, were at a joint negotiating session last summer when the topic was broached.

But, Mr. Gorman said, when they asked for details, none were forthcoming.

"When the fire unions and the EMS unions sat down with the Office of Labor Relations to discuss this exact issue, [FDNY] Deputy Commissioner Doug White said, 'We have no EMS merger documents to show you; we have no formal plan,''' said Mr. Gorman. "Any such changes would have to be negotiated with Mr. Eppinger and myself, and the FDNY has failed to discuss it, and failed to produce any kind of plan."

Mr. Eppinger said he attended the bargaining session to learn the details of the FDNY proposal, but had no intention of giving up existing duties or jobs.

Fears for Job Lines

"This union attended subsequent bargaining discussions with Labor Commissioner [James F.] Hanley, and he stated that he was not aware of any plan," Mr. Eppinger said. "In our view, the EMTs and Paramedics are only to be led by EMS officers represented by this union, whether administratively or in the field. That is our stand. What concerns me about shifting over responsibilities to other supervisors is, what is our future?"

Mr. Eppinger was also unhappy with an FDNY proposal to create Advanced Life Support teams of Paramedics and EMTs who would respond to emergency calls in non-transport vehicles. The city tried a similar plan in 1997 with disastrous results. A Mayor's report in 1998 found the ALS teams did nothing to enhance response to priority calls.

Mr. Eppinger said since EMS merged with the FDNY 10 years ago, the department had failed to keep many of its promises about opening community-based EMS stations and beefing up staffing. He said the Strategic Plan report amounted to a dream scenario that would allow the FDNY to phase out most of its EMS Bureau.

"This union will do everything in its power to stop it and will call upon the District Council, the AFL-CIO, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees to stand with us in opposing it," he said.