NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) – Response times are “creeping up” as the city drags its feet on higher pay for EMS workers, a union representative told PIX11 News.

FDNY EMS workers are “not hopeful” Mayor Eric Adams will keep his promise to increase pay and benefits as negotiations stall, FDNY EMS Lt. Anthony Almojera said. The union’s last contractual meeting with the city was months ago, he said.

The result is a risk the city can’t afford, Almojera said. EMT staffing is down hundreds below pandemic-level staffing, he said. It’s half what it should be to handle New York City’s call volume.

And because of high turnover, a majority of the workforce has under five years of experience, Almojera said.

The average EMS response time for non-life-threatening medical emergencies this year is just over

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