Jeff Harper, general manager of Oxford Oaks Paramedic Service, invited us to join him at the capitol building in Sacramento today as he tries to tell legislators how the minimum wage increases are going to hurt EMS. "We have no less than a dozen people who are going to get substantial pay increases when the minimum wage goes to ten dollars an hour. These pay increases are not wanted," he says, citing multiple interviews he had where, when offered the choice between a pay increase and keeping their jobs, many employees chose their jobs. "Not to mention that our entry level workers and basic care providers will now be paid almost as much as our advanced care providers. That's sure to ruffle some feathers, and we like thinking that our employees are happy."
Harper also shares concerns that the pay increases may cause workers to take on fewer hours. "If our people aren't working 84 hours a week, we might have to hire more part-time people to cover the gaps. We don't like the sound of that idea," Harper says. In a phone call later that day, he clarified this statement, adding "because we like to keep our close-knit family of employees close together as much as possible"
"What's more is that we can't afford the pay increases," Mr. Harper says. "For a few examples, we spend a lot on our ambulances. We just bought new ambulances this year, after the state wouldn't license our rickshaws for duty," which Mr. Harper is also in Sacramento to contest. "Even though they were given to us in good condition at 200,000 miles, they cost a lot to maintain. We haven't bought new radios in ten years, so it costs a lot to make sure they keep working. We've managed to save a little money since the implementation of our policy that if it's not on fire, it's not broken. We're overpaying for our stations by at least three times. Our crews barely have the time to use them anyway, and we're exploring more cozy, 250 sqft options with optional thermostat and floors that we think we're going to be pleased with. Also, we've begun to encourage crews to bring their own cots, since maintaining our twelve year old mattresses is costing us a bundle in ambulance and radio repair supplies. Have you seen how much duct tape costs these days?!" The average cost at the time of this writing is $4.00 a roll, no doubt very costly at an industrial scale.
"The ultimate point is this: these wage increases aren't needed, they aren't wanted, and they're going to really hurt everyone. I mean, if we can't afford to pay for a timeshare in Australia anymore, the owners might be more invested in the day-to-day operations, and then who wins? Not small businesses, not the little guy, not America. Some people say that we don't pay our workers enough, but we all agree that's ridiculous. With our hours, our workers are free to make as much money as they want- that's the reward they've earned for their years of school, and that's what Sacramento's wiping their feet on. We claim no responsibility for any employees who choose to live beyond their means, since they're clearly not responsible enough to work as much as they need to."
