Editorial
Our city’s lifesavers
deserve a real salary Healing power of yoga
The emergency medical technicians
(EMTs) of the New York City Fire
Department have one of the toughest,
high-pressure jobs in the city — and
they do it well.
Last year, they responded to more than
1.5 million medical emergencies across the
five boroughs — a daily average of more
than 4,500 runs — saving countless lives
in the process. They have to work fast and
deal with difficult situations, knowing that
in many cases, every lost second may bring
their patient closer to death.
And yet, for all the incredible pressure
they endure and the services they provide,
a city EMT is also grossly underpaid. The
entry-level salary for an FDNY EMT is just
over $33,000 a year — or about $16 per
hour. The city’s minimum wage is $15 per
hour.
It’s sad and ironic that these lifesavers
can’t get a livable wage from the city they
serve.
The de Blasio Administration is quick to
point out that EMT salaries climb to more
than $54,000 a year after five years on the
job. But, according to the unions representing
EMTs, the reality is that many of these
first responders can’t afford to hold out that
long for better pay.
The turnover rate for city EMTs is incredibly
high. About 75% of the entire EMT
force, according to the unions, has less than
five years of experience.
It’s not just about workers who can’t
handle the duties and find another career;
the unions charge that it comes down to
these workers can’t afford the ever-rising
cost of living.
A rookie New York City police officer
starts out with an annual salary of about
$45,000. The same holds true for a probationary
New York City firefighter. Both
of these first responders are tasked with
responding to emergencies and are trained
to save lives.
There’s no reason for the city not to pay
an EMT like a cop or a firefighter from the
start of their careers — not when so many
lives are at stake.
Negotiations are now underway between
the unions and the de Blasio Administration
to hammer out a new deal. We hope the city
finally fixes this embarrassing pay disparity.
The de Blasio Administration must do
what’s right and reward the life-saving
EMTs with a livable wage. It’s the very least
they deserve.
Publisher of The Villager, Villager Express, Chelsea Now,
Downtown Express and Manhattan Express
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in 1972
Villager staff photo
This photo from the March 9, 1972 issue of The Villager was part of
an article with the headline, “Yoga As Drug Therapy Gains Respect
on 12th Street.” The Yoga Head Program was started in 1970, the
article by Su DeBroske noted, at Horizon Center by a student at the Integral
Yoga Institute in Greenwich Village, as the Addiction Service Agency
explored potential positive effects of yoga for therapy against drug abuse.
The caption read, “Horizon Center Yoga Head Program has been a boon
to many former addicts seeking control of their minds and bodies.”
— Gabe Herman
Extra!
Extra!
Local News
Read all about it!
www.TheVillager.com
12 February 20, 2020 Schneps Media
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