There’s no movement yet toward a resolution on how Springfield firefighters will provide EMT services on ambulance calls – with the clock running toward a deadline.
The Illinois Labor Relations Board is expected to hand down a final ruling as early as next week that the city improperly imposed a requirement for fire department EMTs to ride along in ambulances when necessary to provide patient care; the ruling says that requirement should have been collectively bargained.
Once that final ruling is issued, firefighters may no longer be required to provide that care during ambulance rides. New Fire Chief Ed Canny, Jr – who is just in his first week on the job – says he is still working toward a resolution, but also notes that he’s convinced that both the city and the union are fully committed to ensuring that all patients have the level of care they need.
