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Ambulance workers threaten slowdown
(Published May 17, 2004)

By KATHRYN SINZINGER
Staff Writer

An independent group of emergency medical workers is threatening a work slowdown, in violation of their union's contract, if city leaders fail to address what they say are serious problems within the District's ambulance service.

The workers, calling themselves the EMS Community Outreach Committee, say the city has too few ambulances on duty, is unable to retain its paramedics and is failing to purchase critical medical supplies because they are "too expensive." And they say the deficiencies are costing people their lives.

"I couldn't explain to my family why an ambulance couldn't get there sooner," paramedic Rodney T. West told The Common Denominator, relating what happened last Dec. 26 when his grandfather died in Southeast Washington.

West said about 43 off-duty paramedics and emergency medical technicians gathered May 7 to discuss the possibility of holding a mass sick-out during Memorial Day weekend, when at least one million visitors -- including many elderly military veterans -- are expected in town for dedication of the new World War II Memorial. He said the threatened work slowdown was delayed after D.C. City Council members pledged to take action on their concerns.

Councilman Kevin P. Chavous, D-Ward 7, is expected to introduce legislation on May 18 that would separate the District's Emergency Medical Service (EMS) from the Fire Department, among the group's major demands. The bill is expected to mirror language of a bill that was introduced two years ago by Councilwoman Carol Schwartz, R-At Large, but failed to come up for a council vote. Councilwoman Kathleen Patterson, D-Ward 3, has scheduled a hearing before the council's Committee on the Judiciary, which she chairs, for June 2 to publicly air the concerns of paramedics and emergency medical technicians.