Good Trouble Lives On March Friday | Save Jobs at Queens College

From the recent SCOTUS decision allowing discriminatory redistricting, to the Trump administration’s attempts to assert federal control of elections, we’re experiencing a new Jim Crow effort to restrict freedoms, silence Black voices, and consolidate power.

In this country, we choose our leaders. We decide our future. The same spirit that fueled Selma, Montgomery, and the March on Washington lives on in our resistance to the rise of fascism fueled by white nationalism and xenophobia.

A nation-wide coalition of groups is organizing a weekend of action, Friday, July 17 – Sunday, July 19, in remembrance of civil rights icon and Congressmember John Lewis: Good Trouble Lives On. New York City’s Good Trouble actions will kick off with a rally and march in lower Manhattan. PSC members will meet at 5:00 PM in front of the New York County Supreme Court (60 Centre St.) before joining the 5:30 rally in Foley Square.

RSVP: Good Trouble Lives On

In June, many College Assistants (CAs) and Non-Teaching Adjuncts (NTAs) at Queens College were laid off and others in those titles had their hours cut. Now Queens College administrators want to cut departmental adjunct budgets by 25% or more! If these latest cuts are implemented, adjunct faculty would lose out on appointments and income they were counting on and some would lose health insurance coverage. Students would have fewer course offerings they need to complete their degrees.

The Queens College PSC chapter is organizing to reverse the layoffs and protect our colleagues’ jobs. You can support the campaign by signing and sharing this petition and by RSVPing to attend the Rally to Save Queens College Jobs at 4:30PM on Monday, July 27th. The rally will be outside 100 Wall Street, the site of the investment bank where CUNY Board of Trustees Chairman William Thompson works.

Sign Petition to Save Jobs at Queens College

RSVP: Rally to Save Queens College Jobs

Nearly half a million New Yorkers lost their Essential Plan health insurance this month because President Trump and his cronies cut over a trillion dollars from basic services to fund tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy. New York’s richest residents are getting a $12 billion tax cut every year!

PSC members will join an 11 AM rally and press conference next Wednesday, July 22nd outside Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx (map: 111 East 210th Street) to demand that Governor Hochul and the Legislature stand up to Trump, tax the rich, and fund the healthcare and services that New Yorkers need. No one should go without healthcare in this rich state.

Sign up here to let us know you’ll be there. We’ll be joined by our Invest in Our New York coalition partners, the Committee of Interns and Residents, NY Caring Majority, healthcare workers, Senator Gustavo Rivera and other elected officials.

RSVP: Invest in Our NY Press Conference

Register here for the Zoom

Join the PSC, Assemblymember Diana Moreno and State Senator Julia Salazar for a Zoom town hall on the mounting threats to our academic freedom and the ongoing legislative efforts in Albany to protect the rights of faculty and staff.

Salazar and Moreno are the prime sponsors of a bill that would codify the AAUP’s definition of academic freedom in state law. From the bill sponsor’s memo: “To enforce this definition and provide relief to employees alleging an academic freedom violation, the bill also establishes a final binding arbitration process for employees at public higher education institutions, and a private right of action for employees at all higher education institutions.”

Click here to read more about the bill in Clarion and here to RSVP here for the Zoom meeting link.

Court Support Every Friday Morning

If you have been through the PSC’s online court support training, please join with fellow union members to bear witness and support immigrants who are called to the courts at 26 Federal Plaza. Spanish speakers are especially helpful. Meet any Friday at Pret, 7:30 AM at 319 Broadway, across the street from 26 Federal Plaza.

Termination of Temporary Protective Status for Haitians and Syrians

The recent Supreme Court ruling that terminates Temporary Protective Status places approximately 350,000 Haitians and 6,100 Syrians, among whom are students, scholars, faculty, staff, at risk of losing eligibility to remain in the United States. Unless there are delays, implementation may begin as soon as July 24, so any affected CUNY students and employees should immediately contact CUNY Citizenship Now! by calling 646-664-9400 or texting 929-334-3784 for free and confidential immigration legal assistance. An appointment can be requested by completing this form.

Laura Wagner, Director of Refugee Student Initiatives at the Presidents’ Alliance, stated: “Today’s deeply troubling Supreme Court decisions will upend the lives of thousands of displaced individuals who were forced to flee their homes due to natural disasters and conflicts, many of whom have lived in the U.S. for decades. They include talented students and scholars who contribute daily to our campuses and communities. Our colleges and universities thrive because they attract and support talent from around the world. Stripping legal protections from students, scholars, faculty, staff, and other long-standing members of our campus communities undermines our institutions, weakens America’s talent pipeline, and damages our country’s long-term competitiveness.”

This ruling adds to the list of 17 countries whose TPS has already been terminated. Chancellor Matos-Rodriguez made this statement. PSC continues to organize on several fronts to protect our members, students, and NYC immigrant communities. Short-term and long-term solutions are needed but the immediate need is for affected Haitians and Syrians to have their individual situations assessed by a lawyer so we urge you to take advantage of the resources offered by CUNY.

Clarion has transitioned to a fully digital format. With online-only publishing, we’ll release new content more often, no longer tied to monthly updates, and continue expanding our newsletter with deeper coverage and updates.