Hundreds March in Support of Hackensack EMS

On Monday, June 30, around 250 Fire Fighters, EMS workers, union members and community allies marched in support of the Hackensack Emergency Medical Services, which are threatened to be outsourced by the Hackensack City Council. Chanting, "Citizens Deserve the Best, Save Our FD EMS" the informational rally snaked through city streets to inform the community of the council’s intent of turning over the Hackensack Fire Department based EMS to a private contractor through Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC).

Click here to see photos from rally.

If the plans to transfer the EMS services goes through, eight EMS workers, who are members of IAFF Local 2081, will lose their jobs. IAFF local leaders commented that while they are concerned about saving their members jobs, the most important issue is the safety of the citizens of Hackensack. Union leaders stated that the current Fire Department based EMS structure is designed to maximize communication and coordination between first responders in Hackensack. Many are worried that a private, third-party ambulance service will not be able to provide the same level of care that is currently provided.

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