THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER TO TESTIFY HAS PASSED
The PSC will mobilize members to present testimony before the CUNY Board of Trustees during their public hearing on the proposed CUNY Budget Request and other matters. The hearing is scheduled for 4:30 PM on Monday, December 5 at LaGuardia Community College. The official notice for the hearing was posted 11/28/2022. Here it is.
We encourage you to testify with us in-person, wave a sign and be part of our collective in-person action. That said, the notice indicates that remote, online testimony will be heard live during the hearing. We must inform the Secretary of the Board of Trustees prior to noon on Friday, December 2, if you wish to testify remotely (The Secretary will email you a link to testify remotely.)
LaGuardia Community College (Mainstage Theater)
31-10 Thomson Avenue (entrance on Van Dam Street between Thomson and 47th Avenues)
Long Island City, New York 11101
The hearing starts at 4:30. A line will form before the hearing starts, so the earlier you get there the better. For in-person testimony, you testify in the order in which you sign in at the hearing. At the last hearing, remote testimony was heard first.
Seven subway lines and several MTA bus routes are within walking distance of LaGuardia Community College. The 7 train is closest. Click here for more information. If you’d rather drive, the nearby paid lots are listed here. Street parking may also be available.
Sign up below to let us know that you intend to testify. All spoken testimony will be limited to 3 minutes. Written testimony can be any length and can be submitted ahead of time to the Secretary of the Trustees via their Dropbox or it can be handed in as you speak.
Sign Up to Testify
What to Say | Testimony Template
We’re focusing on budgetary needs and contract needs. The Board of Trustees will vote soon on the University Budget Request for next year (Fiscal year 2024). So, you might testify about how public underfunding of CUNY has affected your work and your students, your department or office, or about the infrastructure needs of your campus. With the PSC-CUNY contract expiring at the end of February, you might choose to testify about our need for real raises that beat inflation, about continued remote work options, the need for additional equity salary increases for our lowest paid colleagues. It’s up to you but keep it to 3 minutes or less.
Here’s a template developed by a member of the Hunter College Chapter.
Dear Members of the CUNY Board of Trustees,
My name is <name>. I am a <contract title> in the <department/unit/office> at <college/worksite>.
I am writing today to testify about an issue that inhibits my ability to do my job well and, therefore, to best serve the students at <college|worksite> <Brief 1-2 sentence description of issue>.
I hope that an illustration of the problem will convince you of its magnitude. <5-8 sentence paragraph with an anecdote that illustrates the issue>.
Action by the Board of Trustees can make a real difference. I implore you to <one specific thing the BoT can do, such as make a strong budget request/support our contract demands>, which could <brief 1-2 sentence explanation of how it could help>
Thank you,
<name>
<department/unit/office>
<college>
Published: October 25, 2022 | Last Modified: May 25, 2023
