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JAMESTOWN – Jamestown’s Fire Department union is responding to the city council’s vote to strike down their newly reached contract.
The agreement would have provided an additional ambulance and four new fire fighters, a point union president Ben McLaughlin says would help to quell the “pending EMS crisis.”
“Over the past two years, Jamestown Fire Fighters have worked with the community and the City Administration to find solutions to the pending EMS crisis, while also being good stewards of taxpayer resources,” said McLaughlin in a statement. “Unfortunately, because of the rejection of the tentative agreement, the issue remains.”
He goes on to say that the overall calls for emergency service are up 78 percent with ambulance transports specifically up over 1,000 percent. He says fire fighters are committed to providing services, however, the current resources available are not enough to meet the growing needs.
“Our citizens deserve to know that when they call 9-1-1, they will receive an adequate and effective response from Jamestown Fire Fighters,” continued McLaughlin. “The city continues to take advantage of our surrounding volunteer fire departments and abuse the mutual aid agreements. The safety of our Citizens is the top priority of Jamestown Fire Fighters, and it is time that the City takes responsibility and invests in our citizen’s safety.”
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