Chicago firefighters and paramedics march in NASCAR street race in Chicago – NBC Chicago

Members of the Chicago Fire Department took their fight for a “fair” contract downtown as NASCAR fans headed to the Chicago street race.

Fans sat in the stands watching practice sessions on the first day of the race as firefighters and paramedics marched down Michigan Avenue. Several first responders called out Mayor Brandon Johnson and told him they deserved better.

“It’s a slap in the face, that’s the message they’re sending us,” said Patrick Cleary, president of Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2. “They don’t appreciate us.”

Cleary said the union has been trying to secure a new contract and has been meeting with the city at least once or twice a month for the past three years.

“Our doctors are overworked,” he said. “We don’t have enough paramedics, and on top of not having enough paramedics, we don’t have enough ambulances.”

The union wants to add 20 ambulances to its fleet of 80, hire more paramedics, and offer annual pay raises and promotions.

“Last month alone, 800 days of overtime. It’s not 800 hours or 800 eight-hour shifts, but 10 percent of our department had to work 800 days of 24-hour shifts,” said Anthony Snyder, director of Emergency Medical Services for Chicago Firefighters Local 2.

The union said members are doing the best they can after a dangerous and violent Fourth of July in the city.

“On July 4, we had 13 fires and 55 shootings in one day,” Cleary said. “Thirteen fires and 55 shootings, and we’re short-staffed and medics are working 24, 48, some of them 72 hours straight, that’s bad.”

The firefighters and paramedics were supported by their brothers and sisters in blue.

“This is basically step one. Our largest protest will be in support of the DNC, with all eyes of the nation on this city and the Democratic Party,” said John Catanzara, president of the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7. “We’re going to hold them accountable for the pro-union moniker they’ve held for decades.”

The union hopes to reach an agreement soon while continuing to provide critical care to the public.

“Not only do we deserve better, but the public deserves better, too,” Cleary said. “They deserve better care.”

The union said the next meeting with the city is scheduled for Thursday, July 11. NBC Chicago reached out to the mayor’s office for comment but had not received a response as of Saturday afternoon.