NYC Subway Strike in 2005 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

NYC Subway Strike in 2005 - Essay Example On the other side, the transit workers have bigger wages than the teachers although their work is unqualified . In December 2005 the contract between Transport Workers Union and Metropolitan Transportations Authority expired so they had to sign another one. The two parts didn't agree because the Union asked wages too big and the MTA wanted to increase the retirement age from 55 to 62 and the retirement funds would have been reduced. These demands were considered unacceptable for the transit workers and MTA didn't drop out their requirements mostly because of the Taylor Law, which was very much used by the Metropolitan Authority during that period. The public employees fair employment(or the Taylor Law) defines the rights and obligations for public employees. If they have the right to organize and to elect their union representatives they are not allowed to strike. The fine for striking is twice the employees' salary for each day the strike lasts. MTA relied on this law and thought the workers will not strike. Christmas time was an important period for New York and the renewal of the contract overlapped with this moment. The Transport Workers Union took advantage of this, thinking that in this way they will obtain all their claims. The Union wanted raises of salary(6% per year for each of the five years of contract) , more expensive accommodation for maternity leave, finance for station maintenance , to lower the age of retirement from 55 to 66(while MTA wanted to raise it), improved health plans and a stronger pension fund. They didn't agree with the age of retirement or the percent for health insurance. One of the most intriguing demands of MTA was that the new workers should contribute to their pension plan with 6% of gross salary and to pay 1% for their health insurance and offered only 3.5% raise every year. However it should be specified that the average salary for a normal New Yorker is 45.000 dollars a year while that of an employee in public transportation is 51.000 dollars a year, with the mention that a bus or subway operator could earn even 63.000 dollars a year. During the strike seven million people were forced to go to work on foot or by bike , and the whole system almost collapsed .Some blamed the strikers for the crisis, saying that their wages are big enough for an unqualified work and some blamed MTA for taking advantage of the Taylor Law and having exaggerating demands. However 54% of the New Yorkers believed the complaints and requirements of the Union were fair and 36% didn't agree with it. The city was the one that suffered most from this crisis because all happened during the holidays and the tourist season when the city is like a throng. One thing is for sure none of the two parts didn't think at these. MTA thought they could ask anything because the Taylor Law would allow them and the Union speculated the period hoping that they will get what they want. The public response about who was responsible for the strike was once again divided: 41% said the both sides are guilty, 27% that MTA was to blame and 25% didn't agree with

Affluenza in Austrail Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Affluenza in Austrail - Essay Example The article by Hamilton which is entitled the Affluenza in Australia is the main focus of the study. There are different concepts related to affluenza presented in the article which revolves on the relationship of wealth and the fulfillment of the people in life. Based on the report, people in Australia are becoming decreasingly dissatisfied with their life regardless of the increasing trend of income in the country (Hamilton 2005, 16). The article presented different situations in the way of life in Australia that can be considered as indications of affluenza. One is the view that ‘people that are wealthy on the basis of international or historical standard’ have the notion that their way of life is tough. Even 62 percent of the population in Australia has the perception that they have no capability to buy the things they need (Hamilton 2005, 16). This is considered as affluenza since on the basis of the material things owned by the households in Australia, the lifestyle of the people there can be considered as luxurious. This can be observed on the basis of different examples such as the size of houses, the household appliances and the average income of the people (Hamilton 2005, 16). There are different points to analyze the article. These include the components of the article, the points presented and the empirical data and evidences presented which present the relationship to affluenza in the Australian society. In terms of the components and manner of presentation of the data, the article can be considered to lack certain parts such as the presentation of the main objectives and methodology used in the study. These components are considered important in an article to be able to point out the reliability of the information. Such components are required for both quantitative and qualitative studies. In terms of the article title, it can be considered to represent a broad area that includes all the issues related to affluenza