During National EMS Week, AFSCME honors the professionals who provide us with emergency medical services and save countless lives every day.
EMS workers put their lives in harm’s way to save our lives. They are the first responders who show up before anyone else in times of crisis. They deserve the nation’s gratitude.
“Every day, we are grateful for the selfless heroes who choose careers in EMS, including many AFSCME members,” said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. “We must remember to never take their service or sacrifice for granted.”
But this EMS Week comes at a difficult time. Extremists in Congress and the new administration are pushing for budget cuts that will harm EMS and all other public services we deliver in our communities.
“Anti-union extremists in Congress are racing to gut Medicaid — which would devastate emergency services,” Saunders noted. “Less funding for this lifesaving program would make it more difficult for EMS workers to help us when we’re in crisis.”
The harm that will result will extend far beyond emergency services.
As Saunders noted, cutting Medicaid would “shutter hospitals and clinics, force ambulances to trave farther, delay care.”
It would also “overwhelm an already stretched EMS workforce with fewer staff, less equipment and longer response times,” he said. “That’s why we’re getting organized to defend public services and our jobs.”
AFSCME launched our Get Organized campaign — AFSCME GO. It’s about AFSCME members standing up against threats to public services. It’s also about protecting our communities and the federal programs we rely on. That includes Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security.
This week, we recommit to fighting for EMS workers, protecting public service jobs and safeguarding our nation’s public health.
Join us in our fight. Let’s GO.