Boston EMS celebrates new graduations, promotions

Boston EMS, whose union as been vocal about recent staffing levels, now numbers a few more.

The city celebrated the promotion of 19 EMT recruits and the recent promotions of seven lieutenants, five paramedics four deputy superintendents and two superintendents.

"Boston EMS represents all of our neighborhoods and the time, training, resources that we invest in our graduates always find a way back to our neighborhoods and to our communities," Mayor Michelle Wu, who attended the graduation and promotion ceremony Monday morning, said in a statement.

The city touted that those promotions over the past four months "represent approximately 300 years of combined experience working with Boston EMS."

The EMTs will be assigned to 911 ambulances and dispatch operations, per the administration..

The EMS union, which is part of the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association, has been increasingly vocal over the past few months about what it sees as "catastrophic" staffing levels. The union has said 25% of all EMTs have quit over the past eight years as it pushes for pay closer to what cops and firefighters make.

The union recently said calls coming too often for all the ambulances to handle is becoming an "everyday occurrence."

Our providers are stretched thin, being asked to do more with limited resources," the organization tweeted as it continues contract negotiations.

Wu has said no calls have been dropped because of this.

(112122 Boston, MA): New EMTs applaud during the Boston EMS graduation of new EMTs and promotion ceremony at Faneuil Hall Monday,November 21, 2022 in Boston, MA. (Staff Photo By Nancy Lane/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)

(112122 Boston, MA): Janice Biggs-Rivas sits with her son,John,4, before her husband, newly promoted paramedic Juan Rivas, was pinned during the Boston EMS graduation of new EMTs and promotion ceremony at Faneuil Hall Monday,November 21, 2022 in Boston, MA. (Staff Photo By Nancy Lane/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)

(112122 Boston, MA): New EMT Daniel Kalayjian is pinned by his goddaughter Allison McCarthy,6, during the Boston EMS graduation of new EMTs and promotion ceremony at Faneuil Hall Monday,November 21, 2022 in Boston, MA. (Staff Photo By Nancy Lane/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)

(112122 Boston, MA): Newly promoted paramedic Kaleigh Connnolly gets a hug from her daughter, Lydia,5, mother, retired EMT Kathy O'Connor and grandfather , retired EMT Captain, Kevin O'Connor during the Boston EMS graduation of new EMTs and promotion ceremony at Faneuil Hall Monday,November 21, 2022 in Boston, MA. (Staff Photo By Nancy Lane/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)

(112122 Boston, MA): Newly promoted paramedic Molly Palermo gets a kiss from her husband, fellow paramedic Paul Giannnnetti, after he pinned on her badge during the Boston EMS graduation of new EMTs and promotion ceremony at Faneuil Hall Monday,November 21, 2022 in Boston, MA. (Staff Photo By Nancy Lane/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)

(112122 Boston, MA): Newly promoted paramedic Juan Rivas is pinned by his son, John,4, as his wife Janice Biggs-Rivas looks on during the Boston EMS graduation of new EMTs and promotion ceremony at Faneuil Hall Monday,November 21, 2022 in Boston, MA. (Staff Photo By Nancy Lane/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)

(112122 Boston, MA): New EMTS react during the Boston EMS graduation of new EMTs and promotion ceremony at Faneuil Hall Monday,November 21, 2022 in Boston, MA. (Staff Photo By Nancy Lane/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)

(112122 Boston, MA): New EMTs march in during the Boston EMS graduation of new EMTs and promotion ceremony at Faneuil Hall Monday,November 21, 2022 in Boston, MA. (Staff Photo By Nancy Lane/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)

(112122 Boston, MA): New EMTs celebrate after their pinning during the Boston EMS graduation of new EMTs and promotion ceremony at Faneuil Hall Monday,November 21, 2022 in Boston, MA. (Staff Photo By Nancy Lane/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)

(112122 Boston, MA): New EMT Andrew Cousin is kissed by his wife, Janice, after she pinned on his badge during the Boston EMS graduation of new EMTs and promotion ceremony at Faneuil Hall Monday,November 21, 2022 in Boston, MA. (Staff Photo By Nancy Lane/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)

Sign up for email newsletters