Budget/Legislative Action

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Public Funding │ Legislation │ Access │ Get Involved
PSC uses grassroots organizing, media and direct advocacy to make our members' voices heard at City Hall, in Albany and Washington: we take our message to the streets, the airwaves, the internet, and into the offices of elected officials.

Hundreds of students, faculty and staff march past the Capitol demanding funding for public higher education, march 15, 2011, Albany

Demanding Public Funding for CUNY

Direct public funding for CUNY’s operation comes from the city and state, so PSC’s budget campaign focuses on both City Hall and Albany. (Learn the basics about CUNY's funding sources here.) See an analysis of State funding and tuition over time and an analysis of City funding and tuition over time. We oppose finance policies that would increase CUNY’s dependence on tuition and undermine student access.

PSC also campaigns to win capital funding to address CUNY’s backlog of critical maintenance needs and enhance CUNY's physical plant.

Improving CUNY through Legislation

The union also fights to improve working conditions and governance at CUNY through the legislative process. PSC supports legislation to provide unemployment insurance for adjuncts, increase transparency at the CUNY and SUNY Research Foundations and college foundations, prevent workplace bullying, expand college access for undocumented students and improve CUNY trustee selection. Visit our State Legislative Priorities 2012 page to read about the bills, download advocacy materials, and take action online.

Defending Access and Opportunity

In addition to campaigning to keep tuition affordable, PSC fights to protect students’ access to college by advocating for financial aid programs and special initiatives that support CUNY’s mission to expand opportunity.

Get Involved

To get more involved at your workplace go to Chapters or join the Committee on Legislation.