In a major legislative breakthrough, heart disease among
Emergency Medical Service workers will be presumed to be caused by
the physical and psychological stress of their jobs. Under the new
law, affected members of Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics
Local 2507 and EMS Officers Local 3621 could retire with tax-free
disability pensions of three quarters of their final average salary.
The legislation removes an inequity between the 3,000 uniformed EMS
employees in DC 37 and uniformed police and firefighters, who have
had a similar heart bill in place for many years.
This is a tremendous victory for our members, said Local
2507 President Patrick Bahnken. By passing it, the Legislature
and Gov. Pataki have recognized the sacrifices of EMS workers, the
vital role we play in public safety, and the hardships of our work.
This is momentous legislation for us, said Local 3621
President Donald Rothschild. It brings us another step toward
parity with the other uniformed forces.
The Legislature passed the bill late last year, and Gov. Pataki signed
it into law Jan. 30. For assistance in winning the legislation, the
locals thanked Pataki; Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver; Senate Majority
Leader Joseph Bruno; City Council Speaker Gifford Miller; prime sponsors
Senator Serphin Maltese and Assembly member Peter Abbate; and Assembly
member Michael Gianaris.
They also praised lobbying efforts by members and executive boards
of the two locals and the work of lobbyist Robert A. Ungar. Many
activists sacrificed their time to help convince legislators of the
justice of our cause, said Mr. Bahnken.