NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – New York City reached a deal to raise the starting pay for lifeguards and develop a training program to fully staff the city’s “mini pools” in an effort to ease a pool staffing shortage as the summer season heats up.
Mayor Eric Adams announced the deal Wednesday, saying starting wages for lifeguards will rise to $19.46 per hour for the 2022 summer season.
Many city pools were off limits over the July 4 holiday weekend because there weren't enough lifeguards--a problem seen in communities nationwide.
“Every New Yorker deserves to safely enjoy our city’s public pools and beaches this summer and my team has taken extraordinary measures to make that happen,” the mayor said in a statement after a deal was reached with the lifeguard union represented by District Council 37.
In addition to elevating lifeguard pay this summer, the city is also paying a $1,000 retention bonus in September to guards who work every week through the end of the season.
Adams said the plan also includes the creation of a class of lifeguards who are restricted to the city’s 17 mini pools, which are usually located in playgrounds and are meant to be used by kids under 16 years old.
The mayor said the influx of mini pool guards will allow the city to “quickly” open the pools, which he called an “essential cooling center for young New Yorkers.”
Additionally, city agencies will collaborate to keep swimmers off closed sections of beaches this summer amid a national lifeguard shortage, Adams said.
“While these changes are a step in the right direction, our ability to safely open beaches and pools has been impacted by a national lifeguard shortage, and has also been held back by inefficient practices that are in dire need of further reform,” the mayor said. “We will continue to work closely to correct course on policies that don’t serve New Yorkers and pool resources from all agencies to ensure a fun and safe summer.”
Henry Garrido, the executive director of District Council 37, said, “The most important result of this agreement is that visitors to the City’s pools and beaches this summer will be safe and protected by professional lifeguards who are properly trained to handle any water emergency.”
The national lifeguard shortage, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has prompted communities to cut back on pools and hours. New York City was forced to cancel all swim programs for the summer, including lap swim, senior swim, and Learn to Swim.
In some places, swimming areas are going without attendants. Public health experts say the risk of drowning decreases significantly when lifeguards are present.
The American Lifeguard Association estimates the shortage impacts one-third of U.S. pools. Bernard J. Fisher II, director of health and safety at the association, expects that to grow to half of all pools by August, when many teenage lifeguards return to school.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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