#BullyFreeCUNY

The PSC Anti-Bullying Committee is organizing events throughout the year to confront workplace bullying at CUNY. The calendar is pasted below.

Workplace bullying is repeated, unreasonable actions aimed at intimidating, humiliating, degrading or undermining an employee or group of employees (Clarion, June 2012). We know from testimony given during our DA and chapter meetings and through years of organizing that bullying is a real problem at CUNY. It’s a difficult issue, not easily solved by an employer or a union.

CUNY management and the PSC agreed during the last round of contract negotiations to develop a joint campaign to address bullying in the workplace. That shared commitment was reaffirmed in Fall 2020, and the union is continuing this important work with the intention of further engagement with the University.

Like all our work, confronting workplace bullying requires collective action and active solidarity. PSC members need guidance about how to address bullying when they experience or witness it. But the culture of our CUNY workplaces must also be shifted so that bullying is universally unacceptable and our colleagues who are the targets of bullying feel empowered and supported, not alone or ashamed.

To guide our anti-bullying efforts, the Committee members turned to the set of Community Norms and Practices adopted by the PSC in July, which call on us as PSC members and individuals to “nurture a work environment that is respectful and free from discrimination, harassment or bullying.” The commitments we make to each other in the norms and practices don’t have to apply to just our community of unionists, they can and should apply to our entire university community.

Pending Events

We are attempting to rescheduled a workshop with Dr. Morteza Mahmoudi. In the meantime, please avail yourself to listen to Dr. Mahmoudi’s presentation on YouTube, which is about an hour and twelve minutes long. It is titled “Root Causes and Possible Solutions to Academic Bullying in High Education.”

Morteza Mahmoudi is an Assistant Professor of Radiology and Precision Health Program at Michigan State University (MSU). Prior to coming to MSU, he was an Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School. He was a target of academic bullying. His specific research interests include, nanomedicine and regenererative medicine for prevention and treatment of life-threatening conditions. He is among the 2018 most highly cited researchers as reported by Clarivate Analytics. He co-founded the Academic Parity Movement to ensure that no researcher would suffer from violence, discrimination, or academic bullying without sufficient support.

More to be added.

Past Events

(Listed in reverse chronological order. Selected recordings of the speaker presentations or slides are typically posted one week from the day of the live event.)

THURSDAY, MAY 4, 2023, 6:30 – 8:30 PM | Anti-Bullying Workshop
Topic: Academic Workplace Bullying and Psychological Harassment

Speaker: Linda Crockett, MSW, RSW, SEP, CCPA is the founder of The Canadian Institute of Workplace Bullying Resources and offers a trauma informed overview on the psychological hazards of psychological harassment, otherwise known as bullying. She will define it, help us identify the early warning signs, risk factors, profiles of those targeted, barriers for witnesses to report it, and also share about why people bully others. Linda will offer some tips on prevention, intervention, repair and recovery options. Her goal is to promote psychological safety for all adults and prevent harm. Her presentation will include a completion certificate and a handout. Download the Resources and Solutions handout here.

THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 2023, 6:30 – 8:30 PM | Anti-Bullying Workshop
Topic: Implicit Bias and Workplace Bullying: Examining power systems and structures we participate in that offer, encourage or at least facilitate bullying in the workplace.

Speaker: Bathabile Mthombeni, J.D., MSLOD, PCC is an ICF certified coach, organizational ombudsperson, mediator, and the founder and principal of Untangled Resolutions, dedicated to designing inclusive complaint and conflict management systems that cultivate belonging. Bathabile is also the university ombudsman for Binghamton University, the premier public university in the state of New York. Ms. Mthombeni is a dynamic and gifted speaker, trainer, and coach who combines humor and her backgrounds in interest-based negotiation and mediation, non-violent communication, inclusion and belonging, and positive psychology-based approaches to coaching to create unique and transformational experiences for her audiences and private clients.

TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 2023, 6:30 – 8:30 PM | Anti-Bullying Workshop
Topic: Microaggressions In Everyday Communication in the Workplace

This workshop discusses daily verbal, behavioral and environmental indignities whether intentional or unintentional that communicate hostile, derogatory and negative insults to a target person or group of persons under the wider category of microaggressions. Often abilities are underestimated, gender, ethnic and racial inequities are stated, and inappropriate comments are made regarding mundane tasks, with the intent to exclude or marginalize. Solutions for dealing with microaggressions encouraging open communication are provided. Our speaker is Professor Pamela Stemberg, Adjunct Assistant Professor of English, City College and Hostos Community College. Click here to download slides, and handouts (microaggression examples and tools).

Watch the video of the April 18th workshop:

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2023, | Anti-Bullying Workshop

Topic: Emotional Intelligence as a Coping Strategy for Workplace Bullying
Speaker: Professor Sheridan Abraham is an adjunct Professor of Business and Marketing at York College. She has researched Workplace Bullying extensively and has presented and been published at conferences proceedings on the topic. She is a certified Emotional Intelligence (EI) practitioner and has applied EI as a Coping Strategy to ameliorate the negative outcomes of workplace bullying. Her goal is to eradicate workplace bullying while helping people cope with the side effects of the phenomenon. Click here to download slides.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2023 | NYSUT Peer Support Line
Life is complicated, but NYSUT Member Benefits can help. The Peer Support Line is a new service available through NYSUT Member Benefits offered at no cost to all NYSUT members and their families. This confidential helpline — staffed by trained in-service and retired individuals who understand the unique professional and personal challenges of NYSUT members — can provide answers, resources, and empathetic support when you need it. Speakers: Courtney Hill, LCSW, Social Services Specialist, NYSUT Program Services Department and Joe Mangini, NYSUT Peer Support Specialist. More information on the NYSUT website.

MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2023 | Anti-Bullying Workshop
Bullying is horrendous when it occurs to anyone. We need guidance and direction on how to deal with this. Our presentation gives us 23 tips on what to do when bullying occurs. Hope you will be able to think of some of these tips and to implement them when it occurs around you. Professor Clara Wanjgurt will be presenting the tips on behalf of the Anti-Bullying Committee. Click here to download slides.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022 | Assertiveness Training
Self-assertiveness, self-empowerment, and self-resilience are at the core for tackling workplace bullying. If we can become more aware and educated in these qualities, we will improve our self-image, communicate in a clear and confident manner, and respond to situations with dignity and respect. Let’s work together to combat workplace bullying at CUNY. Professor Clara Wanjgurt, Queensborough Community College, will be conducting “Tackling Bullying Through Assertiveness Training.” Click here to download slides.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2022 | PSC Anti-Bullying Committee Report to CUNY
Committee members present CUNY with a copy of a summary report of the committee’s work and initiate discussions with CUNY on a joint anti-bullying campaign. Click here to download slides. and PSC Anti-Bullying Committee Report 2021-2022.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2022 | PSC Anti-Bullying Committee Report to DA
Committee members share information on the PSC’s anti-bullying work at the union’s monthly delegate assembly. Presented by Amy Jeu. PSC members who are not delegates may log on to the Delegate Assembly as an attendee. Click here to download slides.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2022 | Anti-Bullying Workshop
Under the current contract, what can you do right now if you are being bullied? Faye Moore, PSC Director of Contract Administration and University-wide Grievance Counselor will be providing information and education about members’ rights, bullying and contract enforcement. Click here to download slides.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2022, | New York State AAUP Conference
Theme: “The Mental Health Crisis and Higher Ed: Recognizing and Standing up for the Needs of Faculty, Staff, and Students and Creating Opportunities for Positive Change. Click here for more information.

Sessions of interest:

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Leah Hollis, Associate Professor, Advanced Studies in Leadership & Policy, “Intersecting Incivility: How Workplace Bullying Compromises Diversity and Inclusion”

Afternoon Speaker: Dr. Loraleigh Keashly, Wayne State University, “Faculty Experiences with Bullying”

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2022 | AFT Trauma Counseling Programs & Services
Speaker: Eric Hukey, AFT Trauma Coverage servicing agent and member advocate. More information on the AFT website.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2022, | Workplace Bullying 101
A session on the costs of bullying at CUNY

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2022 | Anti-Bullying Workshop
Dr. Maria Volpe, Director of the CUNY Dispute Resolution Center, will conduct an interactive workshop on mediation: promises and challenges. (Posting of recording is forthcoming.)

WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2022 | Anti-Bullying Workshop
Under the current contract, what can you do right now if you are being bullied? Faye Moore, PSC Director of Contract Administration, will be providing information and education about members’ rights, bullying and contract enforcement.

Using the Grievance Procedure as a tool in the fight against bullying in the workplace

TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2022 | Anti-Bullying Training
This is a training for campus support team members who will be helping other people who experienced workplace bullying. In this orientation training for the pilot campus support team members, we will review their roles and responsibilities, learn how to best support members of the PSC bargaining unit in need of support, share best practices for listening to personal stories, and equip members with resources for further assistance. The four pilot campuses are Bronx Community College, City College, Hostos Community College, Queensborough Community College.

CANCELLED–WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2022 | Anti-Bullying Workshop
Join us for an exciting workshop on workplace politics and bullying given by Dr. Leah Hollis, who is a visiting scholar at Rutgers University and a noted national and international expert on workplace bullying. Further, she currently serves as an associate professor at Morgan State University and was just awarded the prestigious 2022 Dr. Iva G. Jones Medallion Award at Morgan State University – which recognizes excellence in teaching, research, service, leadership and character. Her research interests focus on healthy workplace issues, race, gender, and intersectionality issues.

We are attempting to reschedule with Dr. Hollis. In the meantime, please avail yourself to listen to Dr. Hollis’ presentation on YouTube which is about an hour and twenty-one minutes long. It is titled: Bullying in Higher Education: Understanding Vulnerable Employees’ Experiences.

MONDAY, MARCH 21, 2022 | Anti-Bullying Workshop
A discussion on allyship by Dr. Loraleigh Keashly. Dr. Keashly is a Professor of Communication; Associate Dean, Curriculum & Student Affairs, College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts; and Distinguished Service Professor at Wayne State University. Her main research focus is the nature, effects and amelioration of uncivil and bullying behaviors in the workplace with a particular interest in the role of organizational structure and culture in the facilitation or prevention and management of these behaviors.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2022 | Anti-Bullying Workshop
Rolling out Community Norms and Practices at your chapter meeting. We will discuss strategies for creating a welcoming and inclusive environment, introduce the Community Norms and Practices, and address issues and objections that may arise. Click here to download slides.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2022 | Anti-Bullying Training
Self-assertiveness, self-empowerment, and self-resilience are at the core for tackling workplace bullying. If we can become more aware and educated in these qualities, we will improve our self-image, communicate in a clear and confident manner, and respond to situations with dignity and respect. Let’s work together to combat workplace bullying at CUNY. Professor Clara Wanjgurt, Queensborough Community College, will be conducting this training on assertiveness.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2022 | Anti-Bullying Workshop
An interactive workshop on powerful listening skills will be conducted by Professor Claudia Shacter-deChabert, School of Labor and Urban Studies.

MONDAY, 5 Weeks (Nov 15, 22, 29, Dec 13, Dec 20, 2021) | Online Book Group
We will be reading “Bully Free at Work” (eBook available at https://www.bullyfreeatwork.com) by Valerie Cade. This group will be facilitated by Professor Clara Wajngurt from Queensborough Community College. All PSC members are invited to join, learn and grow together as we cope with and stop workplace bullying. Any questions, please email Amy Jeu, PSC Anti-Bullying Committee Member, at [email protected].

MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2021 | Anti-Bullying Workshop
A discussion on communicating in the CUNY workplace led by Professor Soribel Genao, CUNY Queens College. No video for this event.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021 | Anti-Bullying Workshop
A discussion on how to handle disagreements. Please refer to LinkedIn Learning video “Communicating through Disagreement” by Michael Shermer

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021 | #BullyFreeCUNY Anti-Bullying Digital Media Action Day
Through coordinated social media, PSC members will share stories, tweet and post about workplace bullying — its tactics, its effects and its costs. Tell us your story.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021 | Towards a Better Workplace
A lunchtime discussion on a #BullyFreeCUNY
Click here to download slides.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2021 | PSC Delegate Assembly Presentation
Committee members share information on the PSC’s anti-bullying work at the union’s monthly delegate assembly.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2021 | Unity Day
Building solidarity to end bullying at CUNY.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2021 | Personal Story
A City College CLT tells his bullying story. No video for this event.
Speaker: Ali Askarinejad (City)

MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2021 | Graciano Matos Remembrance Event
Matos, a PSC delegate and a staunch advocate against bullying at CUNY, was committed to changing policy and contract language related to workplace bullying.

WEEK OF OCTOBER 18-22, 2021 | Freedom from Bullies Week
A concentrated week of events to highlight workplace bullying.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2021 | Listening Session
A discussion of possible anti-bullying contract provisions and policy language
Speakers: Contract Enforcement and Principal Officers

MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2021 | Bullying 101
A session on the costs of bullying at CUNY
Speakers: Amy Jeu (Hunter), Clara Wajngurt (QCC), Nichole McDaniel (BCC), Angie Beeman (Baruch)
Download slides: Anti-Bullying Committee, Community Agreement, Bullying 101: Shedding Light on a Shadow Epidemic