The city of Detroit has come up with a plan to combat a shortage of firefighters and EMS workers.
According to FOX 2 Detroit, during the last contract negotiation, a plan was unveiled to combine the roles of firefighters and EMS workers into a single position.
The problem, according to the Detroit Fire Fighters Association, is that the plan isn't being put into action and it's leading to other issues.
About 30 to 40 members are running out of patience and have left for other departments offering more pay.
The association estimates that the city is down 200 firefighters and 100 EMS workers.
Fire Commissioner Charles Simms, however, told FOX News that the process is underway.
"We have classes going on every month," Simms said. "And it will take some time because we don't want to deplete EMS to do this crossover training. For some of the EMS members, it is going to take 8 to 10 weeks to train them."
Despite the challenges, the union says the current first responders are doing all they can, going on 450 to 500 runs a day.
"The overtime is killing these guys," said Thomas Gehart, union president, "but thank God they are coming in and working because we wouldn’t be able to function if they didn't."
All parties agree they are not far from a solution.
"We are on the same page," Simms said. "Administration and union, we want to get these members crossed over as quickly as possible but we have to do it in a strategic manner."
