New EMS Officers' Union Head: Pay is Top Priority

The Chief-Leader/Michel Friang WORKING TOGETHER: Vincent Variale (right), who is the new president of Emergency Medical Service officers union Local 3621 of District Council 37, promised to work closely with the EMS line-employees union, Local 2507 of DC 37. With him is that local's vice president, Israel Miranda.

When Vincent Variale was sworn in May 18 as the president of Local 3621 of District Council 37, which represents Emergency Medical Service officers, it marked a new era of possible détente with the Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians union—Local 2507 of DC 37—regarding a piece of Federal legislation for 9/11 responder health care.

Mr. Variale's predecessor, Lieut. Tom Eppinger, had been the lone opponent among fire union officials to a clause in the James Zadroga Act—a Federal bill that would establish permanent health monitoring and treatment for 9/11 responders— that would compel all Fire Department members to use an employer based health-care program.

'Balance' Key Criterion

"I'm not against it," Lieutenant Variale said in an interview at City Hall May 12. "I'd have to review more particulars of it. But as long as it's done balanced and everyone was equally monitored, I don't think it would be a problem."

The election defeat of Mr. Eppinger, who had served as president since 2004, also prompted the resignation of the union's outspoken pension consultant, Marianne Pizzitola, a retired EMS employee who vocally opposed Local 2507's support for the mandated in-house treatment.

As Local 2507 Vice President Israel Miranda looked on approvingly at the new Local 3621 president—the two graduated from the same EMS class 14 years ago—Mr. Variale promised to strengthen ties with the line-employees' union.

In addition, he pledged to fix what he considers problems regarding the pay structure for EMS officers and to advocate for a civil service promotion exam for new EMS Captains.

Need Higher Pay in Officer Ranks

"There should be some more differentials," Mr. Variale said. "We've taken up a lot more details, tasks; the compensation hasn't followed. Our Captains are responsible for the dayto day operations of the division, and they have to be compensated for that. Lieutenants pick up the slack by doing more of the jobs in the stations and they're not being compensated for that."

He cited a problem Mr. Eppinger had also stressed: that the pay for EMS officers does not constitute a substantial-enough increase to entice seasoned Paramedics and EMTs to seek promotions. He said that the current pay ladder discouraged people from making EMS a career, instead leading skilled Paramedics to either seek a Firefighter promotion or leave the agency entirely for higher-paying jobs.

"It has to be restructured so that it's worth it for a Paramedic to become a Lieutenant," Mr. Variale said. "Now, Paramedics aren't compensated to become a Lieutenant. They have to wait five years before they get an actual raise as a Lieutenant, so there's no incentive. It's hurting the officers' line because you're not getting as many experienced personnel as you used to get in the past."

'Can Lose Money Getting Promoted'

The members of both unions ratified a joint contract in November that provides 16.99 percent in wage increases over the course of the 51- month deal, which ends Sept. 5, 2010. Under the terms of that pact, Supervising EMS Specialists at Level 1 receive a starting salary of $52,890 and a maximum of $59,627. For officers at Level 2, those numbers are $54,699 for starting pay and $61,223 for maximum salary.

Mr. Miranda also noted that when Local 2507 members with more than 10 years on the job take an officer's promotion, they lose their Recurring Increment Payment benefits.

"If you're losing $1,300 in your RIP, you're actually losing money taking a promotion," he said.

As an Emergency Medical Technician, Mr. Variale also served as a delegate in Local 2507.

"I went to Albany many times with them and helped them achieve the many benefits that we all enjoy today, such as the 25-and-out pension and disability pension," he said.

He added that it would take some adjusting moving from the field to full-time union work. "I look forward to the challenge," Mr. Variale said. "I'm going to miss the streets, because I enjoy helping people every day."