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

| 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.

According to multiple EMS personnel who spoke to independent investigator and journalist Leroy Truth, the agency has been engaged in an aggressive pattern of retaliation against whistleblowers who have raised concerns about the toxic work environment. Many of these employees say they are being punished simply for speaking out, reporting misconduct, or cooperating with an ongoing investigation by a city-contracted attorney.

“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?”

Journalist Leroy Truth reportedly interviewed Administrative Supervisor Jose Gutierrez earlier this year about allegations of retaliation, to which he denied any wrongdoing. However, with morale among EMS personnel said to be at “an all-time low,” and retaliation claims now involving multiple staffers, many are questioning the credibility of those denials.

Among the most common complaints is the sudden and punitive manipulation of employee work schedules. Staff who had held permanent or predictable shifts say they were abruptly reassigned without enough notice after voicing concerns or filing complaints—disrupting their family lives and creating significant stress.

“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.”

These acts of retaliation, employees say, are part of a larger pattern of punitive behavior by Chief Fierro himself, who they claim fosters a culture of discipline over support. In one particularly bizarre incident last year, a complaint was made regarding a verbal conflict over light switches in a room used by EMS staff. Rather than address the issue professionally, Fierro reportedly removed the switches altogether, forcing the lights to remain on 24/7—effectively punishing the entire department “like children,” according to several sources.

“This is how he manages—he uses every opportunity to send a message that he’s in control, even if it means doing something petty and spiteful,” said one staffer.

Others say Chief Fierro recently took away a larger common room previously designated as a living area where EMS workers could relax during their downtime, and converted it into a larger office for supervisors. This move, they say, was not driven by operational needs, but rather Fierro’s personal desire to enlarge his own office space. As a result, frontline EMS personnel have been crammed into a back room, described by staff as “a form of storage room with a kitchen since they cram everything to the back room.” Although the administration has repeatedly promised future renovations, workers say these promises are empty and have been made “too many times to count.”

“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.”

The administration’s dismissive attitude toward employee concerns doesn’t end there. A few months ago, an employee raised concerns about a department-wide memo, which they believed could represent a breach of the collective bargaining agreement. Instead of taking the concern seriously, administration responded via email calling the employee’s issue “trivial.” This response, employees say, clearly illustrates the administration’s tone-deaf leadership style and their disregard for the staff’s legal protections and contractual rights.

“That word—‘trivial’—tells you everything you need to know about how they feel about us,” said one union member. “They don’t listen, they don’t care, and when we raise legitimate issues, they belittle us.”

Insiders also say that Chief Fierro, a longtime ally of Mayor Brian Stack, was appointed not based on merit but political loyalty. Several whistleblowers allege Fierro actively lobbied for the top job for years, and once in power, used his position to silence dissent and protect politically connected staff—regardless of performance or conduct. Others more qualified for the position weren’t even given the chance to apply for the position. Fierro conducted backroom deals for the top job.

“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.”

As a reminder, Union City Police Captain Michael Bergbauer was appointed EMS Director by Mayor Brian Stack—an appointment many view as yet another politically motivated decision. Bergbauer, whose history and conduct have been heavily scrutinized in multiple videos posted by investigative journalist Leroy Truth, has repeatedly demonstrated behavior that critics say reflects a lack of leadership and professionalism. Most concerning to EMS personnel is his clear lack of understanding of the field he now oversees. In a recent statement, Bergbauer incorrectly claimed that EMS is a “paramilitary department,” a comment that raised eyebrows throughout the state.

In reality, EMS is not considered a paramilitary organization under New Jersey law, further highlighting his disconnect from the standards, structure, and mission of emergency medical services. 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.

Sources close to the investigation say that documentation outlining several harassment complaints and troubling incidents involving Gutierrez and others will be released to the public in the coming weeks. Advocates for transparency and labor rights are calling on Union City leadership to be investigated.

For now, the EMS workers in Union City remain trapped in a system many describe as broken, fearful of retribution, and desperate for reform.

“It’s time for real accountability,” said one longtime EMT. “We risk our lives every day to help people. We shouldn’t have to fear our own leadership too.”

This is a developing story. More updates to follow as documentation becomes available and the investigation continues. Union City is full of political corruption and retaliation.