Detroit EMS, Working Without A Contract, Plan Rally For Support

DETROIT (WWJ) - Detroit EMS workers will rally for support in Detroit this Wednesday. The workers are inviting members of the community to join them for the rally outside the Coleman A. Young municipal building since they've been working without a contract since 2008.

Joseph Barney, of the Police Officers Association of Michigan, which represents EMS workers, wonders where it leaves them when the citizens of Detroit need EMS service?

"EMS just has not been recognized as a public safety group within the fire department. The last labor relations director basically told us we were the red-headed stepchild of the fire department and we would not be receiving public safety recognition," said Barney.

Barney says they're down about 45 employees and 80 percent of the fire department runs are EMS runs.

There hasn't been any comment from the mayor's office.