EMTs and paramedics working for American Medical Response will hold a rally on Friday, June 30, to ask local residents for support in contentious contract talks that they say are damaging their ability to respond to residents with emergencies.

American Medical Response acquired Rural/Metro Ambulance in 2015 and serves The Villages and Sumter County.

“We’ve been in negotiations for nearly a year, but the company doesn’t want to admit people are quitting to take higher paying EMS jobs in surrounding communities,” said Philip Petit, national director for the International Association of EMTs and Paramedics. “We have fewer than half the full-time EMTs and paramedics working that we should. Our people are terrified that patients are going to be harmed because there aren’t enough of our people to respond to calls all over the county.”

Sumter County EMS workers, members of IAEP Local R5-92, will hold an informational picket beginning at 9 a.m. Friday, June 30,in front of the Sumter County Service Center at 7375 Powell Road in Pinellas Plaza in The Villages.

“We should have 36 full-time paramedics and 36 full-time EMTs, but we’re down about 25 total crew members,” said Petit. “Our people are getting scooped up by neighboring shops that pay a living wage. We can’t get enough people to staff our operations fully. Sooner or later, that shortage is going to cost someone a life.”

The EMTs and paramedics of Sumter County have been negotiating for a new contract for 10 months.

In separate negotiations, talks between The Village Center Community Development District and Professional Firefighters of The Villages, IAFF Local 4770 continued for several hours Tuesday at Lake Miona Recreation Center.