EVERETT, Wash. — More than 100 EMTs, dispatchers and clerical staff will lose their jobs at the end of July.
Rural/Metro ambulance staff are facing the layoffs due to AMR’s recent acquisition of the service, reported KING5.
“As part of our integration plan, we are consolidating operations and eliminating redundancies in our Everett Rural/Metro operation,” AMR Regional Director Mike Andrews said. “This change will impact 80 full-time and 25 part-time employees in Snohomish County and will include EMTs, dispatcher and clerical staff.”
Although employees of the service will have the opportunity to apply for open jobs within AMR at locations across the country, many were shocked by the news.
“You get up to go to work everyday and you’ve been there for a lot of years, and then all of a sudden they say sorry, goodbye. That hurts. It’s really hard,” Rural/Metro employee Jim Cleary said.
Cleary has worked for the service for more than 15 years as a registered nurse in the critical care transport division.
“They’re telling us there are jobs available, but you have to start over, you have to reapply, go through an application process, and you may or not be selected,” Cleary said.
While there are other ambulance services that cover calls within the county, Cleary expressed concerns regarding how layoffs will impact patient care.
“Well, I think it’s going to impact a little of the 911 system, until other companies are able to get up to speed … All of a sudden we aren’t there and aren’t doing those calls. It impacts other services.”
The city and fire department said they don’t expect the transition to affect response times, and plans to make necessary adjustments during town hall meetings.
As of July 31, AMR will take over Rural/Metro’s calls.