GRAINGER COUNTY (WVLT) – Grainger County Emergency Medical Technicians are currently among the lowest paid in the state of Tennessee. On Monday night, the EMT’s crowded into the Grainger County Commission meeting and fought to save their livelihoods.
"We're one of the lowest paid services in the state," said Judy O’Brien, a paramedic for the Grainger County EMS.
Each EMT makes the least amount of money required by federal law, $6.55 an hour. The low pay is such a problem that at the county commission meeting, Interim EMS Director David Yankee stood before commissioners and asked that his paramedics receive raises of $2 an hour.
"We need it to keep the trucks going here in Grainger County,” Yankee said. “I am losing people to other counties because the other counties pay more."
Part-time EMTs in neighboring Jefferson County earn more than $10 dollars an hour. The paramedics in Hamblen County’s make $9 an hour.
Many of the paramedics said they were afraid to talk openly about their pay because of what they say happened to a co-worker who talked to Volunteer TV News in August.
"One of them lost their jobs,” said O’Brien. “The other one is being let go tomorrow."
County commissioners denied that they had fired any EMS employees, or even threatened them for talking to the media about pay. Several officials did admit that they first learned county paramedics earn only minimum wage at a meeting in August.
"I think they should get a increase,” said Mark Hipsher, Grainger County’s mayor. “How much, I won't say exactly, but I think they should get an increase."
A handful of EMTs got up and spoke before the commission on Monday, and explained that one of the only reason they haven’t moved on is because they love the community.
"I work in this county and I love everyone in this county,” said James Saylor, a paramedic. “I've lived here for 14 years, that's why I work here."
By the time the meeting concluded, commissioners were considering a 31 cent property tax rate hike. They have decided to postpone making a decision on the hike until they know how much it would cost to fund raises for the EMT workers.
"I'm a little more enthused,” Yankee said afterwards, “I was expecting much worse."
The next Grainger County Commission meeting is scheduled for next Monday at 7:00 PM.
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