On Feb. 7, the 11th contract negotiation session took place at CUNY Central. 30 PSC members joined the negotiation of a contract for the defense of labor workers. PSC is advocating for better pay and recognition of its employees’ achievements and teaching services.

The Professional Staff Congress is a union that represents faculty and staff at CUNY and the CUNY Research Foundation. The union represents 30,000 faculty and staff. 

PSC is committed to its professional members, striving to improve their conditions and terms of employment. PSC aims to maintain the strength and educational excellence of CUNY, the largest urban public university system in the nation.

The CUNY management has been providing proposals that go against the efforts of the PSC. According to PSC, their proposals offload managerial responsibilities on workers and threaten their job security. Some of the proposals also limit benefits for the workers. 

The CUNY management proposed modifications to the procedures regarding the teaching of faculty members online and in-person. Some other proposals include the diminution of office space for faculty members and a denial of CUNY email addresses after one year for retirees. 

The proposals of CUNY management reflect an opposition to the expectations of both the educational industry and the PSC. Moreover, the proposals do not reflect the conditions of workers and their devotion to the development of the future workforce. 

Some of the PSC proposals are focused on the CUNY Language Immersion Program, CUNY Start and job security. Others promote CLT rights and benefits promotions, lecturer advancement, further support for department chairs, labor management committee issues, an increase in base pay for lecturers and professional respect in the workplace.

According to PSC, it is advocating for respect and the rights and benefits of full-time and part-time faculty members at CUNY who devote their time to the improvement of the educational field.

PSC and CUNY management are two important institutions that have opposing objectives and views regarding labor rights and the benefits of faculty members. 

Despite the opposition, the two sides are willing to move forward and find a common ground. The PSC would like to settle the contract in a timely manner. This requires efforts from both sides. There was another bargaining session on Feb. 29.