Unions for workers for New York City’s emergency medical services released released a statement Wednesday criticizing Mayor Bill de Blasio’s focus on pay inequity among soccer players, saying that their members face the same issues.
A statement from the FDNY EMS Unions accused the mayor and presidential candidate of ignoring the plight of first responders while supporting the U.S. Women’s National Team in their fight to be paid equal to the men’s soccer team.
“While Mayor de Blasio uses this victory parade to grab attention for his presidential run and advocate against pay inequality, the first responders of FDNY EMS are victims of that same inequity,” the unions said.
{mosads}De Blasio on Wednesday appeared at a victory parade for the women’s soccer team, chanting “USA, Equal Pay.”
“The difference in salaries after five years is tens of thousands of dollars,” the unions continued, referring to pay among their members. “The women’s national team deserves equal pay, but so do the hardworking EMTs and paramedics who save lives routinely and who the mayor has ignored.”
“The work that FDNY EMS does is vital to our City,” said de Blasio spokeswoman Laura Feyer, adding that the mayor’s office will work with unions to “reach an agreement that is fair to workers and NYC taxpayers.”
De Blasio is among two dozen people vying for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.
His campaign on Wednesday released his plan for gender equality, in which he said he would encourage Congress to pass a law aimed at ending wage discrimination. De Blasio also hopes to change a law to guarantee pay and resource equity for certain national sports teams.
“This team has shown an undeniable truth, an inalienable right, the equality of women must be guaranteed in this nation,” de Blasio said at Wednesday’s parade.
–Updated 4:17 p.m.