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NEWSWhistleblower Retaliation Claims Shake Union City EMS: Employees Speak Out Against Harassment

Published 7 months ago on August 6, 2025 By John Lang

| August 6, 2025

UNION CITY, NJ – A growing number of Union City EMS employees are coming forward with serious allegations of political retaliation, workplace harassment, and administrative abuse, painting a deeply disturbing picture of the agency’s internal operations. The claims center around EMS Chief George Fierro and key members of his administrative team—accusations that, if substantiated, could shake the core of Union City’s public safety infrastructure.
“These are not isolated incidents,” said one employee under condition of anonymity. “It’s happening to good people across the department. If you speak up about harassment or incompetence, they’ll come for your job, your schedule, and your livelihood.”A major focus of the complaints is Supervisor Yanci Gutierrez, who employees say has a long and well-documented history of harassment and unprofessional behavior. According to internal sources, numerous written complaints have been filed by staff over the years—many of which cite repeated intimidation and a hostile demeanor. What makes the matter more concerning, employees say, is that Gutierrez is reportedly married to another EMS administrator, raising serious conflict-of-interest questions.“This screams nepotism and abuse of power,” said another employee. “When someone has that kind of protection in the administration, how can we expect accountability?”
.“Management blames us for the low morale,” one EMS worker explained, “but how are we the problem when it’s their behavior that’s crushing this place? Changing our shifts just to punish us—it’s cruel and it’s clear retaliation.”

“Maybe to some it sounds like a minor issue,” another EMT said. “But when you’re already underpaid, overworked, and treated like you’re disposable—being stripped of even your break room just adds to the humiliation. The harassment complaints are however the main reason why people quit this department and we get staff shortages, it’s because of her.” “Chief Fierro is not leading this agency—he’s destroying it,” said a former EMS official familiar with the situation. “He’ll do whatever it takes to protect the mayor’s will, even if it means stepping on his own employees.”
In another commented, he stated “I can’t fire someone for being a bad supervisor.” (Referring to Yanci Gutierrez) This comment is just outrageous and leaves many speechless on his incompetence. Many are left wondering how someone with no EMS experience and such fundamental misunderstandings can effectively lead an already strained department.

Yours faithfully,

Nepotism