Big Gap in EMS, Firefighter Pay

By ARI PAUL

They both save lives and risk their own every day on the job. They both responded to the 9/11 attacks. They both wear the badge of the Fire Department. But Firefighters are far better compensated than Emergency Medical Technicians.

PATRICK J. BAHNKEN: City should address 'inequity.'

The starting annual salary for an EMT is $27,295. After five years, an EMT earns $41,162 per year. According to the department's Web site, EMTs receive "[e]xcellent pension benefits which include five year pension vesting and full pension benefits after 25 years of service, regardless of age."

Big Gap at Top Pay

The Bloomberg administration in March negotiated a new contract with the Uniformed Firefighters' Association. The starting base salary is $35,000, and after five years a Firefighter can earn $65,841 per year plus night differential pay and longevity pay. Firefighters receive a full pension after 20 years of service.

"We believe our members are grossly underpaid," said Patrick Bahnken, president of District Council 37 Local 2507, which represents EMTs and Paramedics.

The unions representing EMS workers at all levels secured the ability to bargain for their own contracts, giving them uniformed status, by a 6-1 decision of the state's Court of Appeals last week. They hope that this will enable them to bargain for larger salary increases.

"We got to the dance late," Mr. Bahnken said, explaining that EMS workers, until the service was consolidated into the FDNY in 1995, were under the jurisdiction of the Health and Hospitals Corporation. Prior to the change in law upheld last week, the EMS unions got the same contract terms as other DC 37 members. "We were a small group in a very large unit."

But after last week's court decision, Mr. Bahnken is optimistic about change.

"There are many reasons why the city would want to address the pay inequity," he said.