Detroit EMTs Get Largest Raise in Division's History

June 22, 2017
Detroit's EMS Division is the last public safety group to get a raise since the city promised all responders will see an increase in pay.

City officials announced that Detroit EMTs and paramedics will be getting 4 percent raises.

It's the largest raise that members of the city's EMS Division have received in it's 45-year history, according to Detroit News, and will go to all 214 members assigned to field duty. Employees will also be rewarded on a quarterly based on attendance.

It's estimated to cost the city about $800,000 annually, but that money will come from a $2.5 million surplus created by the fact that firefighters are now trained as first responders.

“We can never put a price tag on the burden we all carry as emergency responders,” Detroit EMS Chief Sean Larkins said. “The men and women of EMS in the city of Detroit do this every day, without regard to their own personal health, safety and mental well-being. Day in and day out.”

“When we came out of bankruptcy, we recognized that our police, fire and EMS were paid substantially below the surrounding suburban communities,” Mayor Mike Duggan said. “We didn’t think that was right. We made a commitment to raise them up as the city’s economics improved.”

The EMS workers were the last public safety agency to receive a 4 percent raise, but city officials opened the current contract to implement the raises. 

Since 2014, response times for serious medical calls has dropped by about 12 minutes.

Mike Nevin, president of the Detroit Fire Fighters Association, said the raise shows the city's commitment to increase employee pay, but added it's “nowhere near fair or even.” 

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