NEW YORK CITY FIRE, POLICE, AND TEACHERS’ CONTRACTS

NEW YORK CITY FIRE, POLICE, AND TEACHERS’CONTRACTS THEOLOGY 3305 November 30, 2004 MATTHEW GALLAGHER CHRISTINA KEITH JENNIFER MCNICHOLAS SOPHIA SCIOTTI MICHELLE VIAU

TEACHERS • NYC teachers are hard working individuals • Teachers = Key to the World • They do so much and receive so little. • They deserve better benefits.

NYC public school system is the largest in the country. • Teachers in NYC make less than those in other places. • Teachers spend what little money and time they have to provide the best for their students.

Children = Future Happy Teachers = Better Job Less $ = Lack of Enthusiasm Students suffer consequences

Government need to do more to help teachers, not feed their pockets. • Teachers deserve better than what they are getting now.

SEE • The NYPD and FDNY have been without a contract since July 2002. • Police and firefighters are looking for higher raises and better benefits. • They hold peaceful demonstrations for fair contracts. • No resolution to date.

BLOOMBERG AND CITY PROPOSALS • Mayor Bloomberg does not support better contracts for the police and firefighters. • City’s new contract proposal is an insult to the NYPD and FDNY. • City proposed 4% increase over 3 years. • A fair contract is what’s being asked for.

NYPD AND FDNY DUTIES • Police and firefighters risk their lives everyday dealing with fires and crime. • After 9/11 they also have to deal with terrorism. • Terrorism is an added responsibility and very stressful.

Arguments For Better Contracts

Teachers • 1.1 million students in NYC • Lower salaries than surrounding suburbs. • Overcrowding leads to unfavorable classroom conditions

Police • Risk lives daily for the public • Personally liable for punitive damages incurred on the job. • Most dangerous work in the tri-state area • Lowest pay in the tri-state area

Firefighters • Risk lives for the public • Starting salary $36,878 • Must use obsolete equipment

Are Their Demands Realistic

Teachers • Not all teachers can work in affluent suburbs • Current teacher turnover rate is 10% • The city wants to create a correlation between pay increases and student performance

Police • Low Salary, but unique benefits • Sick days are not limited • 20 paid vacation days per year • Full coverage health plans • Full pension after 20 years • Scholarship opportunities

Firefighters • Base salary is $37,878 • Full coverage health plans • 20 paid vacation days • Full pension after 20 years

ACTWHAT ARE POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS? • STRIKE • DEMONSTRATIONS • CITY COUNCIL SPENDING CONTROL • REAL ESTATE TRANSFER TAXES • COMMUTER TAX • STATEN ISLAND FERRY FARES

PROS: Worked for bus companies in 2002. Would make the city see how valuable these workers really are. CONS: It is illegal for fire and police workers. Poses danger to all city residents. We would be the innocent victims. A STRIKE:NOT AN OPTION

DEMONSTRATIONS • Attract media attention • Workers have to be in attendance at city events. • Let the public know what is going on. • Gives message that they are hard working people. • Shows everyone that they are ordinary people who work hard to support their families.

NEW YORK CITY’SMONEY PROBLEM: IT NEEDS MORE Ways to raise more: • Cut city council spending • Use real estate transfer tax money • Reinstate the commuter tax • Fares on the Staten Island Ferry

CITY COUNCIL SPENDING • Not fiscally responsible • Has increased staff while all city agencies have cut staff • Keeps passing bills and giving away money to please its constituents

Two bedroom/ bathroom home Astoria, Queens Built after WWII Finished basement Backyard SOARING PRICES: 1951- $11,000 1961- $17,000 1980- $43,000 1991- $165,000 2004- $380,000+ REAL ESTATE TRANSFER TAXES

USE OF TRANSFER MONEY • City took in $600 million in additional real estate transfer taxes in 2003 • An unrealized gain • Use money to better fund fire, police, and teachers’ salaries

COMMUTER TAX • Taxed people who worked, but did not reside in NYC. • Rescinded by Mayor Giuliani and Governor Pataki in better financial times.

REINSTATEMENT OF COMMUTER TAX • Commuters have protection of police and fire departments. • Sept. 11, 2001- City workers saved all people, not only New York City residents.

POLITICAL STANCES • Governor Pataki: Eyeing 2006 re- election, does not want to upset Long Island and Upstate voters. • Mayor Bloomberg: Has no votes to lose because those affected do not live in New York City.

STATEN ISLAND FERRY • Currently free of charge. Charge between $1 and $1.50 per ride. • Pleasant ride from Manhattan to Staten Island and vice versa. • Use Metro Card for efficiency. • Better than paying $8 to sit in traffic on Verrazano Bridge.

LACK OF CONTRACTS EFFECT ALL NEW YORKERS • Children are innocent victims of teachers who do not care. • Firefighters and police officers protect us everyday. What would we do without them? • We all have interests in New York City for the future. • NYC is our home and place of business.

REFERENCES: 1. http://www.finfacts.com/costofliving.htm 2. http://www.wsws.org/articles/2002/oct2002/fire-o15.shtml 3.http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/community/firefighter_compensation.shtml 4. http://www.nypd2.org/html/recruit/salary.html 5.http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/crime/20020901/4/210 6. http://www.manhattan-institute.org/html/_nydn-solving.htm 7. http://www.thegunzone.com/mos/nypd-gripe.html 8.http://1010wins.com/topstories/winstopstories_story_288121153.html

NEW YORK CITY FIRE, POLICE, AND TEACHERS’ CONTRACTS