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

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

3. NYC public school system is the largest in the country. NYC public school system is the largest in the country. Teachers in NYC make less than those in other places. 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.

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

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

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

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

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

9. Arguments For Better Contracts

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

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

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

13. Are Their Demands Realistic

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

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

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

17. ACT WHAT ARE POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS? STRIKE STRIKE DEMONSTRATIONS DEMONSTRATIONS CITY COUNCIL SPENDING CONTROL CITY COUNCIL SPENDING CONTROL REAL ESTATE TRANSFER TAXES REAL ESTATE TRANSFER TAXES COMMUTER TAX COMMUTER TAX STATEN ISLAND FERRY FARES STATEN ISLAND FERRY FARES

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

29. REFERENCES: 1. http://www.finfacts.com/costofliving.htm http://www.finfacts.com/costofliving.htm 2. http://www.wsws.org/articles/2002/oct2002/fire-o15.shtml http://www.wsws.org/articles/2002/oct2002/fire-o15.shtml 3.http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/community/firefighter_ compensation.shtml http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/community/firefighter_ compensation.shtmlhttp://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/community/firefighter_ compensation.shtml 4. http://www.nypd2.org/html/recruit/salary.html http://www.nypd2.org/html/recruit/salary.html 5.http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/crime/20020901/4/ 210 http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/crime/20020901/4/ 210http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/crime/20020901/4/ 210 6. http://www.manhattan-institute.org/html/_nydn- solving.htm http://www.manhattan-institute.org/html/_nydn- solving.htmhttp://www.manhattan-institute.org/html/_nydn- solving.htm 7. http://www.thegunzone.com/mos/nypd-gripe.html http://www.thegunzone.com/mos/nypd-gripe.html 8.http://1010wins.com/topstories/winstopstories_story_2881 21153.html http://1010wins.com/topstories/winstopstories_story_2881 21153.htmlhttp://1010wins.com/topstories/winstopstories_story_2881 21153.html