Medical Workers March for Fair Wages

EMS workers from Los Angeles to the Antelope Valley gathering at the meeting spot for the EMS march for fair wages across the sixth street bridge into downtown Los Angeles. Their union contract ended on January 1, 2022 and they still are fighting for more than minimum wage, which is currently $15/hr. East Los Angeles, Calif. September 13, 2022. (Jamie Addison|The Corsair)

EMS workers from Los Angeles to the Antelope Valley gathering at the meeting spot for the EMS march for fair wages across the sixth street bridge into downtown Los Angeles. Their union contract ended on January 1, 2022 and they still are fighting for more than minimum wage. East Los Angeles, Calif. September 13, 2022. (Jamie Addison|The Corsair)

EMS workers from Los Angeles to the Antelope Valley holding their home made signs up for people honking their horns in solidarity to their march for fair wages in downtown Los Angeles. East Los Angeles, Calif. September 13, 2022. (Jamie Addison|The Corsair)

Haley the dog wearing her red shirt for the EMS march for fair wages in downtown Los Angeles. Haley wasn't the only dog marching for fair wages, many of the EMS workers joining in the march brought their four-legged friends as well. East Los Angeles, Calif. September 13, 2022. (Jamie Addison|The Corsair)

EMS workers from Los Angeles to the Antelope Valley gathering at the meeting spot for the EMS march for fair wages across the sixth street bridge into downtown Los Angeles. Their union contract ended on January 1, 2022 and they still are fighting for more than minimum wage. East Los Angeles, Calif. September 13, 2022. (Jamie Addison|The Corsair)

EMS workers from Los Angeles to the Antelope Valley marching in downtown Los Angeles for the march for fair wages. Their contract with the American Medical Response ended on January 1, 2022. They are still fighting for more than minimum wage, which is $15/hr. Downtown Los Angeles, Calif. September 13, 2022. (Jamie Addison|The Corsair)

Katherine Shage, middle, who helped organize the march for fair wages for EMS workers, speaking with everyone before heading out on the march over the sixth street bridge into downtown Los Angeles. East Los Angeles, Calif. September 13, 2022. (Jamie Addison|The Corsair)

Christie Fajardo (left) from Fox 11 News walked with the group of EMS workers marching for fair wages on September 13, 2022 in downtown Los Angeles, Calif. (Jamie Addison|The Corsair)

EMS workers from Los Angeles to the Antelope Valley marching (and some riding scooters) in downtown Los Angeles for the march for fair wages. Their contract with the American Medical Response ended on January 1, 2022. They are still fighting for more than minimum wage, which is $15/hr. Downtown Los Angeles, Calif. September 13, 2022. (Jamie Addison|The Corsair)

EMS workers from Los Angeles to the Antelope Valley marching in downtown Los Angeles for the march for fair wages. Their contract with the American Medical Response ended on January 1, 2022. They are still fighting for more than minimum wage, which is $15/hr. Downtown Los Angeles, Calif. September 13, 2022. (Jamie Addison|The Corsair)

Josh Lebman (left), Zackary Silgero (middle) and Scott Masson (right) may look happy in this photo, but they stated that they are "pissed off and tired" of fighting for fair wages for a job that saves lives daily. Before the march, EMS workers congregated at Boyle Ave and Whittier Blvd in East Los Angeles to hand out t-shirts and signs to use during the march for fair wages. East Los Angeles, Calif. September 13, 2022. (Jamie Addison|The Corsair)

EMS workers from Los Angeles to the Antelope Valley gathering at the meeting spot for the EMS march for fair wages across the sixth street bridge into downtown Los Angeles. Their union contract ended on January 1, 2022 and they still are fighting for more than minimum wage. East Los Angeles, Calif. September 13, 2022. (Jamie Addison|The Corsair)

EMS workers from Los Angeles to the Antelope Valley posing for a group photo with their signs before beginning their march over the sixth street bridge to downtown Los Angeles for the march for fair wages. East Los Angeles, Calif. September 13, 2022. (Jamie Addison|The Corsair)

Haley the dog wearing her red shirt for the EMS march for fair wages in downtown Los Angeles. Haley wasn't the only dog marching for fair wages, many of the EMS workers joining in the march brought their four-legged friends as well. East Los Angeles, Calif. September 13, 2022. (Jamie Addison|The Corsair)

EMS workers from Los Angeles to the Antelope Valley marching over the sixth street bridge into downtown Los Angeles with their signs and red shirts for the march for fair wages. American Medical Response has told the workers they have given their "last and final offer" for their new wages. Throughout the covid-19 pandemic, they have worked for minimum wage, but EMS workers are still fighting for fair wages. Downtown Los Angeles, Calif. September 13, 2022. (Jamie Addison|The Corsair)

EMS workers handing out home made signs to each other before walking over the sixth street bridge in downtown Los Angeles during the march for fair wages. AMR has told these emergency workers they have given their "last and final offer" for their new wages. Their union contract ended with AMR on January 1, 2022. "I don't want to strike, but I will" says the sign that many carried during the march. East Los Angeles, Calif. September 13, 2022. (Jamie Addison|The Corsair)

EMS workers from Los Angeles to the Antelope Valley gathering at the meeting spot for the EMS march for fair wages across the sixth street bridge into downtown Los Angeles. Their union contract ended on January 1, 2022 and they still are fighting for more than minimum wage. East Los Angeles, Calif. September 13, 2022. (Jamie Addison|The Corsair)

EMS workers from Los Angeles to the Antelope Valley marching over the sixth street bridge into downtown Los Angeles with their signs and red shirts for the march for fair wages. American Medical Response has told the workers they have given their "last and final offer" for their new wages. Throughout the covid-19 pandemic, they have worked for minimum wage, but EMS workers are still fighting for fair wages. Downtown Los Angeles, Calif. September 13, 2022. (Jamie Addison|The Corsair)

EMS workers from Los Angeles to the Antelope Valley gathering at the meeting spot for the EMS march for fair wages across the sixth street bridge into downtown Los Angeles. Their union contract ended on January 1, 2022 and they still are fighting for more than minimum wage. East Los Angeles, Calif. September 13, 2022. (Jamie Addison|The Corsair)

EMS workers from Los Angeles to the Antelope Valley marching in downtown Los Angeles for the march for fair wages. Their contract with the American Medical Response ended on January 1, 2022. They are still fighting for more than minimum wage, which is $15/hr. Downtown Los Angeles, Calif. September 13, 2022. (Jamie Addison|The Corsair)

EMS workers from Los Angeles to the Antelope Valley gathering at the meeting spot for the EMS march for fair wages across the sixth street bridge into downtown Los Angeles. Their union contract ended on January 1, 2022 and they still are fighting for more than minimum wage. East Los Angeles, Calif. September 13, 2022. (Jamie Addison|The Corsair)

EMS workers from Los Angeles to the Antelope Valley gathering at the meeting spot for the EMS march for fair wages across the sixth street bridge into downtown Los Angeles. Their union contract ended on January 1, 2022 and they still are fighting for more than minimum wage. East Los Angeles, Calif. September 13, 2022. (Jamie Addison|The Corsair)

EMS workers from Los Angeles to the Antelope Valley gathering at the meeting spot for the EMS march for fair wages across the sixth street bridge into downtown Los Angeles. Their union contract ended on January 1, 2022 and they still are fighting for more than minimum wage. East Los Angeles, Calif. September 13, 2022. (Jamie Addison|The Corsair)

Katherine Shage, middle, who helped organize the march for fair wages for EMS workers, speaking with everyone before heading out on the march over the sixth street bridge into downtown Los Angeles. East Los Angeles, Calif. September 13, 2022. (Jamie Addison|The Corsair)

EMS workers from Los Angeles to the Antelope Valley marching in downtown Los Angeles for the march for fair wages. Their contract with the American Medical Response ended on January 1, 2022. They are still fighting for more than minimum wage, which is $15/hr. Downtown Los Angeles, Calif. September 13, 2022. (Jamie Addison|The Corsair)

Christie Fajardo (left) from Fox 11 News walked with the group of EMS workers marching for fair wages on September 13, 2022 in downtown Los Angeles, Calif. (Jamie Addison|The Corsair)

EMS workers from Los Angeles to the Antelope Valley marching in downtown Los Angeles for the march for fair wages. Their contract with the American Medical Response ended on January 1, 2022. They are still fighting for more than minimum wage, which is $15/hr. Downtown Los Angeles, Calif. September 13, 2022. (Jamie Addison|The Corsair)

EMS workers from Los Angeles to the Antelope Valley posing for a group photo with their signs before beginning their march over the sixth street bridge to downtown Los Angeles for the march for fair wages. East Los Angeles, Calif. September 13, 2022. (Jamie Addison|The Corsair)

EMS workers handing out home made signs to each other before walking over the sixth street bridge in downtown Los Angeles during the march for fair wages. AMR has told these emergency workers they have given their "last and final offer" for their new wages. Their union contract ended with AMR on January 1, 2022. "I don't want to strike, but I will" says the sign that many carried during the march. East Los Angeles, Calif. September 13, 2022. (Jamie Addison|The Corsair)

EMS workers from Los Angeles to the Antelope Valley gathering at the meeting spot for the EMS march for fair wages across the sixth street bridge into downtown Los Angeles. Their union contract ended on January 1, 2022 and they still are fighting for more than minimum wage. East Los Angeles, Calif. September 13, 2022. (Jamie Addison|The Corsair)

EMS workers from Los Angeles to the Antelope Valley gathering at the meeting spot for the EMS march for fair wages across the sixth street bridge into downtown Los Angeles. Their union contract ended on January 1, 2022 and they still are fighting for more than minimum wage. East Los Angeles, Calif. September 13, 2022. (Jamie Addison|The Corsair)

Josh Lebman (left), Zackary Silgero (middle) and Scott Masson (right) may look happy in this photo, but they stated that they are "pissed off and tired" of fighting for fair wages for a job that saves lives daily. Before the march, EMS workers congregated at Boyle Ave and Whittier Blvd in East Los Angeles to hand out t-shirts and signs to use during the march for fair wages. East Los Angeles, Calif. September 13, 2022. (Jamie Addison|The Corsair)

On Sept. 13, 2022, emergency medical services (EMS) workers from Los Angeles to the Antelope Valley met at Boyle Avenue and Whittier Boulevard at the mouth of the Sixth Street Bridge to march for fair wages. Their union contract ended on Jan. 1, 2022, and they have yet to secure a living wage offer from the company.

American Medical Response, Inc. (AMR) has stated that they have given their “last and final offer” for the emergency workers, which is $18 an hour, only $3 more than the minimum wage of $15 an hour that they have been paid throughout the pandemic.

EMS workers have been fighting for better wages for over a year now, and have participated in marches throughout that time. American Medical Response has the 911 transport contract for all of Santa Clarita and Antelope Valley, also holding contracts that provide medical coverage for Dodger Stadium, Crypto.com Arena, LA Live, Banc of California and Microsoft Theater. On top of all of this, they also have a contract that covers one third of LA county emergency transports and coverage for the new SoFi Stadium. Many of these emergency response workers are forced to work over 100 hours a week in order to pay for rent, bills and groceries.

EMS workers from Los Angeles and Antelope Valley say that despite all of this wealth that the company has accumulated, they still won’t budge to pay them fair wages so that they can live comfortable lives. “We are pissed off and tired of fighting for fair wages,” said Josh Lebman, an EMS worker that was at the march.