City officials and fire department face lawsuit for transferring 82 fire cadets to EMT positions

FDNY Firefighter Trainees Push for EMT Roles Sparks Controversy

A major coalition in New York City is expressing outrage at city officials’ decision to place 82 firefighter trainees into EMT positions.

Local 2507, part of District Council 37, representing FDNY EMTs, and the Coalition of Paramedics, are accusing both the FDNY and Mayor Adams of breaching the Civil Service Act. They claim this was done by assigning firefighters to interim EMT roles without proper exams or job applications.

“These 82 individuals had no involvement with EMS,” remarked Oren Barzilay, the local president of 2507. “They signed up to be firefighters.”

Cadets, who are part-time city employees, entered a two-year training program last May, which was intended to enhance diversity within the FDNY. However, following their graduation, they weren’t permitted into the Fire Academy.

Instead, the city opted for EMT training that kicked off on June 16, as stated in a lawsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court.

Fire Commissioner Robert S. Tucker, mentioned in the lawsuit, previously addressed the decision at a cadet graduation ceremony, suggesting this arrangement would offer union protection and ensure they maintain their salary while preparing for firefighter training.

Barzilay countered, stating that many cadets only reluctantly agreed to EMT training. “Most of them have expressed they don’t want to pursue this,” he said, indicating that utilizing these trainees in this manner wastes essential training.

According to Barzilay, only 69 out of the trainees have opted to participate in the EMT training, and the certified EMTs are stepping in to cover shifts while running ambulances across the city, as they fill in for those who have not completed the required civil service exam.

Barzilay pointed out that there are many certified EMT candidates who are waiting for roles. Cadets gearing up for the Fire Academy in October may remain in these EMT roles for as long as two years, as Tucker noted.

Barzilay raised further concerns for public safety, warning that pushing cadets into roles they’re not keen on could result in mistakes on the job. “If they’re not fully committed, it could lead to serious consequences,” he added, hinting at wider implications for public well-being.

Additionally, some have suggested that this maneuver might reflect a larger agenda. “It seems like there’s a plan to combine firefighter training with EMT duties,” he cautioned, potentially threatening the stability of the EMS system.