Friday, October 27, 2017

PODCAST CONFIRMS ICE VIEW OF PBA BARGAINING POSITION

Our week of salutes to the Chief Leader concludes today as we urge everyone to listen to a podcast done by their editor Richard Steier and reporter Bob Hennelly. Thanks to Reality Based Educator for sending it to us.

These labor experts predict exactly what we did yesterday. The city will force the PBA to go to arbitration. They will then settle on a subpar deal with UFT or DC37 that will set a pattern that the arbitrators will impose on the PBA.

The reporters called DC37 and us reasonable unions. RBE in comments here and on his blog calls the UFT a company union. I think he has it more accurate.

Please listen to the podcast and educate yourself.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

How long should arbitration take? Any chance the weak unions will hold out until a decision is made? Any chance the arbitrator's decision will be worse than what we'd get? I would think the rate of inflation should be the minimum raise, but what do I know. Unless the city somehow shows they really cant afford it.

James Eterno said...

Good questions. The city controls the process because it is not that difficult to throw UFT or DC37 a bone to settle before the PBA. Once a pattern is established, it is more or less over for all the other municipal unions. Great idea if we all wait and let the PBA settle first and then say, "Me too." PBA has a little more leverage than us.

Harris L. said...

The police and fire unions have always got a better contract than non-uniformed City workers...they have many more friends than we do in the state legislature and there has always been political support for giving cops and firemen better contracts because of the work they do. I'm not sure that if the PBA goes first that it would set a strict pattern for the UFT and DC37.

I'm not saying civilian workers are any less deserving of a reasonable contract. If the PBA gets a decent contract I'm sure it will result in a better contract for teachers than if the thing is left in Michael Mulgrew's hands.

Anonymous said...

Why bother discussing? Whatever it is, it is...it will be voted on and approved. Cant change the deal or the vote.

Anonymous said...

NY1 has an interview video with Chancellor Farina where ATRs are discussed.

James Eterno said...

Harris, The uniform pattern is usually only around 1% bigger than the civilian pattern. The PBA can make a case that the police earn much less than the suburban police.

Anonymous said...

Wouldn't communcation help between the unions to ensure getting the best pattern possible? Doesn't Mulgrew and Lynch talk about this? Appearently not based on the article and podcast. The reason why the police are making noise now is because they were pissed at the pattern Mulgrew set for the entire municipal workforce back in 2014. I will continue paying dues but Mulgrew is not the right person to lead our union under Right to Work. The blame can be spread around if the union withers under Right to Work. A colleague told me recently that he was watching the mayoral debate and DeBlasio said five times that the city has a surplus so why do we have all of these compensation deferments without interest? Thanks Mulgrew for screwing us on this lousy contract.

Anonymous said...

"The PBA can make a case that the police earn much less than the suburban police."

Hmmm, can't quite put my finger on it, but that sounds familiar.

Anonymous said...

I can't but hope to think the teacher shortage will play a role is raising our salaries...but I know it simply may stay in the area of hope.

I work at a decent school, and we have had four teachers quit in the last two months. Finding replacements has been difficult. Just a couple years ago there were tons of resumes flooding in for a position. Now people are receiving offers from North Jersey and Long Island, even once well into the year.

If they want to attract teachers, you can't pay them 70k a year. Housing prices have skyrocketed here, even in Staten Island you can't find a starter home under 500k, yet a teacher with a masters and 30 credits above, and 5 years of service completed is only making a little over 70k. It is simply unsustanible.

Anonymous said...

Umm, starting teachers are making 70 grand now in NYC? I was not aware that it was that high.

Anonymous said...

It is not that high. 8:01 said with 5 years of service. I think starting is in the $55-56k area, but I haven't looked that low on the pay scale for a bit.

Anonymous said...

$54,000 is the starting salary.

Anonymous said...

That goes real far in NYC.