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Tuesday, August 12, 2014 Mayor Caldwell's press office: 768-5768 (Jesse Broder Van Dyke cell 489-0341) Honolulu Emergency Services Department: Shayne Enright 777-9608   Honolulu Emergency Medical Services Division signs new work schedule Pilot program allows for 12 hour shifts       State Director of United Public Workers (UPW) Dayton M. Nakanelua (far left) joined Mayor Caldwell and top officials from Honolulu Emergency Medical Services Division and the Department of Human Resources to announce the new agreement   Honolulu — Mayor Kirk Caldwell, the Department of  Human Resources, the Honolulu Emergency Medical Services Division and its employees' union, the United Public Workers, have signed a new work agreement allowing for a 12 hour per day schedule.  The new schedule is part of a pilot program that allows for more days off and additional benefits for the city's paramedics and emergency medical technicians.   "Our paramedics and EMTs are out there every day rushing to emergencies and saving the lives of our loved ones," said Mayor Caldwell.  "Under the old schedule, they were kept on mandatory overtime too often, keeping them from their families and causing burnout in addition to increasing costs.  This new schedule should give our dedicated paramedics and EMTs the work-life balance they deserve as they continue saving lives across O'ahu."   "The men and women of EMS deserve this new schedule and the benefits included," said Mark Rigg, Director of the Honolulu Emergency Services Department. "It is the respect that they have earned. The EMS team will have more time to spend with their families and still be compensated for their commitment to serving our islands sick and injured,"   The pilot program will start on August 31, after the employees bid into their new stations.  Under the new 12 hour schedule personnel would alternate between three and four day work weeks.  Currently the field personnel work a five day a week, 40 hour schedule but staffing shortages have forced repeated mandatory overtime.    The new schedule should result in significant savings on overtime within the EMS division. The new schedule will require fewer people daily to operate.   Benefits of the 12-hour work schedule for paramedics and EMTs include a night differential at $1/hour and meal reimbursement.     ------   Comparison of estimated salaries (including benefits such as night differential, routine overtime, etc.):   Field Operation Supervisors Current: $70,692-$80,388 New: $89,860-$102,185   Mobile Emergency Care Specialist III (Supervisors) Current: $64,872-$73,680 New: $82,462-$93,658   Mobile Emergency Care Specialist I Current: $57,264-$64,872 New: $72,791-$82,462   Emergency Medical Technician III Current: $48,576-$52,692 New: approximately $61,747   Emergency Medical Technician II Current: $44,928 – 57,110 New: approximately $57,110   Disclaimer: The preceding information is only applicable to employees participating in the 12-Hour Alternate Work Week Pilot Project effective August 31, 2014 with a duration of one year.  The figures are "ESTIMATES" and there are no guarantees, promises, or assurances that employees will receive these specific amounts.   Amounts received by an individual will depend on the employee's participation in the pilot project and whether the employee physically reports to work and works for all scheduled shifts.   The salaries provided are "unofficial estimates," it is not be construed in any way as a promise or contract with the employer to pay these amounts.   -END-