By Bob Bauder
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
PITTSBURGH — People trapped in life-or-death situations are waiting much longer for help from Pittsburgh emergency personnel because of a union contract that prevents firefighters from performing rescues, city officials said Tuesday. The Fraternal Organization of Professional Paramedics Local 1 didn’t respond for comment.
A veteran paramedic last week said the quality of service to patients is at stake because firefighters aren’t as well trained on vehicle, elevator and swift-water rescues. Paramedics have handled rescues exclusively since 1977.
The city is negotiating a contract with the union, which represents 156 paramedics working under the terms of a deal that expired in 2010. The main sticking point is that the city wants to transfer rescue operations to firefighters to improve response times and free paramedics to focus on medical emergencies.
Full Story: Pittsburgh says paramedics put rescues in jeopardy