By MES Dispatch Staff
The Briefing
- Clinton Township, Michigan, reached a memorandum of understanding with IAFF Local 1381 that lets the fire department hire EMTs, not only paramedics.
- Township Supervisor Paul Gieleghem said the change is expected to save hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.
- The township had been incurring nearly $1 million in overtime costs because it could not find enough applicants trained as both firefighters and paramedics.
- New hires will have the chance to begin paramedic training after one year as probationary firefighters, according to Fire Chief John Gallagher.
- Township officials say a paramedic will still be on scene when needed, through staff paramedics and the township’s transport contract with Medstar Ambulance.
CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Clinton Township has reached an agreement with its firefighters’ union that allows the fire department to hire emergency medical technicians, a change township officials say will reduce overtime costs while preserving paramedic-level care, according to Voice News.
Under the memorandum of understanding with the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1381, which represents the township’s full-time firefighters and paramedics, the department may now hire EMTs. The previous labor agreement did not allow it. Under past contract terms, applicants had to have completed the fire academy and be certified as paramedics, a level above EMT.
Township Supervisor Paul Gieleghem said the township had been unable to find enough applicants trained as both firefighters and paramedics. That left the department routinely understaffed and incurring nearly $1 million in overtime, along with related increases in legacy costs, he said Oct. 29. His explanation followed an earlier Macomb Daily report that incorrectly said the previous requirements called for applicants to be licensed as an EMT or paramedic and to hold Firefighter I and II certificates.
Michigan has faced a shortage of paramedics and EMTs since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, despite millions of dollars in state training grants. Industry experts say emergency medical service agencies have more than 500 vacancies.
Gieleghem said the change puts Clinton Township on par with many neighboring departments and will let it fully staff its five fire stations. He said enough paramedics will remain on staff to meet the advanced life support standard the department has delivered and residents have voted to fund, at lower cost.
Fire Chief John Gallagher said newly hired firefighters will be able to start paramedic training after one year of probation. Township officials said that, combined with the township’s transport contract with Medstar Ambulance, a paramedic will always be on scene when needed.