The PSC Negotiations Committee continued to meet with CUNY through the summer months on non-economic issues, particularly job advancement for HEOs and job security for adjuncts.
“Despite CUNY’s complete lack of progress on economic issues, PSC pressure has produced some real movement on these two non-economic issues – both long-standing PSC priorities,” said PSC President Barbara Bowen. “More movement is needed, but the union bargaining team has countered many of management’s objections and engaged in detailed discussion of the changes we demand. Discussions need to be finalized; it is time for Chancellor James Milliken to reach agreement.”
To the union’s proposal for wage increases, put forward at a bargaining session in May, there has been no response on the part of the University. “At this point,” Bowen said, “with nearly all other state and city contracts settled for the period since 2010, the failure of CUNY to make a salary proposal has to be understood as an attack on us, as CUNY employees.” None of the other unions representing workers at CUNY have received an economic offer, either.
In a letter to members at the start of the 2015-16 academic year, Bowen stated, “Six years without a raise is unconscionable. There is simply no excuse.” PSC leaders have laid out a plan for systematic escalation of pressure on Chancellor Milliken and the CUNY Board of Trustees to win a fair contract settlement and to resist the attack on CUNY faculty, staff and students.
