Detroit EMS has checks shorted; city scrambles to fix

DETROIT – It's been going on for 6 weeks and finally Detroit EMS personnel turned to social media to express their frustration at seeing their paychecks shorted.

Union representatives confirm there's a problem. For some reason about three dozen EMS personnel are being paid at the wrong rates. In most cases checks are being shorted. In a couple cases workers are being paid too much.

After a lot of back and forth between the city and the union, a scathing letter was sent to the mayor. Mayor Mike Duggan's inner circle confirms they have been made aware and have already cut checks to make up the difference on Friday.

The problem, according to the union, is they don't know if these checks are correct either.

"We don't have the records and trying to get the records is like prying candy out of a child's hand," said union business agent John Barr.

Duggan's director of communications, John Roach, tells Local 4 the problem is multifaceted but the biggest issue is an antiquated payroll system that is in the process of being upgraded. Roach says the city has launched an audit that it will share with the union. The city hopes to have any check discrepancies cleared up by July 16.


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