staffing shortages

On a chilly Monday evening, Boston EMS ambulance after ambulance arrived at the Boston Medical Center with its lights and sirens blaring. As the calls for help hit record levels, the union representing Boston EMS paramedics and EMTs says it is struggling to fill enough ambulances to serve the city. “We are at a breaking point right now, our staffing…

Boston EMS paramedics and EMTs have been working for nearly 18 months without a contract with the city, and the union says the current starting pay of $22/hour is not enough to fill open positions. During the day, Boston EMS runs 26 ambulances across the city the union says, and at night that drops to 16.