Cops got a FAT Raise (Ridge: moving, bill, discount)

[ogplife]

[quote=thekuai;5009380]

Originally Posted by ogplife

I am a sanitation worker. Out of all city agencies I believe our department has the most physical amount of work. Today my partner and I collected 18 TONS of city resident's refuse, by hand. If broken down evenly, each of us did 9 TONS. So today I picked up 18,000 lbs of household garbage with my own two hands and aching back, and that was just today. Besides dealing with sore muscles we are ranked as having one of the top ten most dangerous jobs in the nation. We deal with angry new yorkers who try to squeeze pass us like our lives are not worth a damn. People throw unthinkable items such as glass, syringes, and hazardous materials for us to pick up. Like postal workers, household collection occurs 6 days a week through rain, snow, or heat. The only time we are truly appreciated is when it snows. Other than that, all new yorkers know is that they put their garbage out before they go to work, and by the time they return, it is gone.

Sure, the department of Sanitation only requires a high school education, but does that give me any less status than that of a police officer? (FYI, I have 91 college credits toward a bachelors in Informations Systems) I know of plenty of co-workers who have 2 and 4 year degrees. Why did we take this job? Because the economy "sucks" and DSNY is offering steady pay with great benefits and a 20 year pension.

I'm not saying a police officer is a bad job but the garbage we deal with does not talk back or spit at us. We don't have to go home and think about that murder victim or one of the five domestic disputes we responded to. We don't have to see images of that kid whose brain was splattered all over the windshield because he didn't wear his seatbelt. And for all the reasons I mentioned, the NYPD deserves this raise. I also think we deserve a raise just to adjust for the cost of living increases. Everything is going up besides our paycheck. It's almost impossible for someone to live off of $31,200 a year in the city.

And don't think it is so easy to get this job. There are people banging on the door to get this job. The exam is only given every 4 years just like the fire department which also does not have a recruitment or attrition problem. The entrance exam still requires a fee to take it and 32,640 people (interesting close to the # of police officers) this past summer took it. They only hire a few hundred a year. What is the most popular thread on this entire site? You probably came across it a few times but haven't read through it since it has to do with "garbage men", but the most popular thread is titled " DSNY sanitation test 6063 nyc thread" and as of now, it has 6,165 posts.

Nobody ever said you guys don't have a tough job. I think your job is difficult and I think you deserve every penny that you get. I personally don't think 31,000 is not out of whack for a Sanitation Worker to start. I think it is fair. As many have said on your famous thread people will gladly take a pay cut from their present salary to your current starting salary to get to 67,000 after 5 years (more like 80000 - 90000 with all the other differentials you actually get). If you guys were to raise the starting salary I won't complain either. I also think you should not play victim when there are people on your thread who talk about how good you have it and how you should DM each other on certain perks so the public don't watch you guys too heavily ( post #6155). Yes, I have read your thread from time to time, but to think I am going to read 620 pages of it your out of your mind. I have absolutely no interest in working for DSNY. Yes your thread and exam is popular, it is popular because you guys are paid very, very well (like I said earlier many would say overpaid) and it is probably the best job (salary) in the city that does not require any college credits (which it should not require). I really think you should take your colleagues advice and keep quiet before somebody starts a thread and you get an idea of what taxpayers truly feel you should be paid.

[MottHavenDude]

JimBenz...then why have a minimum requirement of an AA..surely that doesn't make you a better cop? And why did they then also have the HS Diploma/GED requirement...that does not make you a better cop either right? So why do they keep increasing the requirements if they are in fact useless/pointless/make no impact in anyway on the dept?

[Jimbenz31]

Originally Posted by MottHavenDude

JimBenz...then why have a minimum requirement of an AA..surely that doesn't make you a better cop? And why did they then also have the HS Diploma/GED requirement...that does not make you a better cop either right? So why do they keep increasing the requirements if they are in fact useless/pointless/make no impact in anyway on the dept?

MottHavenDude.....The minimum requirement of AA came aboard because the city and dept. thought that having an AA would bring in better qualified candidates. (And it actually didnt) The FDNY also had a minimum requirement of 30 college credits then changed it to 15 credits OR 6 months job experience. They realized that having college credits wont go far in saving your life and helping others in a fire.

Their are a lot of guys on the job today who do not have and AA or BA. Some got on with prior military experience and the others are old timers who came on before the college requirement came into effect. Does this mean that they are less qualified then those who come on today? i dont feel so.

You have this opinion that having a 4 yr degree makes a person a better cop. And that's fine its your opinion. I feel sorry you think this way but its just not true. Ask any cop you know and they will tell you the same. This job requires much more then just a college degree.

[MottHavenDude]

You are dancing around the issue dude. Do you suggest we get rid of all education requirements then...because by your logic, education is incompatible with what it means to be a good cop...and I wholeheartedly disagree with you. A more educated, professional, elite Police Force cannot happen when you accept HS dropouts or worse. Your premise of "its the person not the education" is fine in theoretical discussions, but the reality is we need these minimum education requirements to portray an image of the Police Force as "NY's Finest", as well as to HELP ensure we are getting a quality candidate....although education is no guarantee..it sure helps. The NYPD would be the laughing stock of the country if the force was filled with HS dropouts or worse. And yes, I agree that the job requires far more than justa college degree..but having the 4 year degree says alot about the NYPD, what they expect out of their recruits, the image they are trying to portray, and the fact that they are in fact "NY's Finest." With this almost $100,000 compensation after just 5 1/2 years, the increased education to a 4 year degree was shamefully missing.

[vantastic10]

You don't learn "street smarts" in College. Which we all agree makes for a very good cop. That is something one learns outside the classroom.

[MottHavenDude]

Great....you can have the street smarts, go to college, get the "book smarts" necessary to be an effective/intelligent/critical thinking cop..and then we can have a cop that is not only street smart, but has a 4 year education and can think outside the box....now why exactly would this be incompatible with being a good cop? The 4 year degree requirement should have been part of this $100,000 compensation package.

[Turkey Tuesdays]

Maybe with their new raise they will put more than 20 bucks on the bar thinking they can drink all night!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lol anyone who ever served a cop fireman or other city worker knows what i mean.

[Turkey Tuesdays]

[quote=ogplife;5012349]

Originally Posted by thekuai

Nobody ever said you guys don't have a tough job. I think your job is difficult and I think you deserve every penny that you get. I personally don't think 31,000 is not out of whack for a Sanitation Worker to start. I think it is fair. As many have said on your famous thread people will gladly take a pay cut from their present salary to your current starting salary to get to 67,000 after 5 years (more like 80000 - 90000 with all the other differentials you actually get). If you guys were to raise the starting salary I won't complain either. I also think you should not play victim when there are people on your thread who talk about how good you have it and how you should DM each other on certain perks so the public don't watch you guys too heavily ( post #6155). Yes, I have read your thread from time to time, but to think I am going to read 620 pages of it your out of your mind. I have absolutely no interest in working for DSNY. Yes your thread and exam is popular, it is popular because you guys are paid very, very well (like I said earlier many would say overpaid) and it is probably the best job (salary) in the city that does not require any college credits (which it should not require). I really think you should take your colleagues advice and keep quiet before somebody starts a thread and you get an idea of what taxpayers truly feel you should be paid.

Listen do not take this guys line about workin DSNY. He has been on for a month, so he has no idea what this job is about. The jobs are apples and oranges 1 is public safety and the other is manual labor. Sanitation is a tough job,but it has its pluses also like any job. Everyone who works in NYC feels they are underpaid just the way it is. The city uniformed contracts set a parity line where one agency cannot make significantly more than the other. Just the way it goes and eventually all the other unions will get theirs. You take a city job for its perks and benefits and flexible hours not to be a millionaire. Our contract is in tonnage for a specific pick up so if you choose to try and do this in 4 hours or 8 hours as long as your work is complete that is up to the worker. If the puplic taxpayers and the city want more weight per truck it has to be included in the next contract with more money. Thats the way it has been since when they cut city trucks to 2 workers and paid them a differential for doing the work of 3 people. Cops and Fireman have a tough job and they should make more in base salary, but with that higher pay should come a more stringent hiring practice.

[MottHavenDude]

Lol...Turkey...my sister has bartended, and most of the time they expect to drink and eat free whereever they go....and nope..they don't tip!

[Turkey Tuesdays]

Originally Posted by MottHavenDude

Lol...Turkey...my sister has bartended, and most of the time they expect to drink and eat free whereever they go....and nope..they don't tip!

exactly lol I know guys that go to the same restaurant when they are working every night and eat free. Then they do not have the courteousy to tip the girls more than 5 bucks for a free meal.