At the first bargaining session in three months, with close to 60 members observing, the PSC bargaining team was finally able to regain momentum that was lost due to CUNY’s delays. The team put forward nine demands dealing mainly with matters of workload, equity, and professional respect. Management reported on the tentative agreement made recently with the unions representing 10,000 CUNY non-pedagogical employees. President Davis reiterated the PSC’s position that our members, who have endured salary erosion and cost of living increases, deserve raises that beat inflation. Read the full update.
Observe a Bargaining Session!
Over 400 PSC members have observed a bargaining session so far, and your presence has been invaluable. PSC member participation is more important than ever as we approach the bargaining session marking the one year anniversary of our contract expiration on Thursday, Feb 29, 1 – 5 PM (observers must attend from 12:30-5:30 PM). It will be held in the PSC Union Hall, 25 Broadway, 15th Floor.
The first step is to attend an Orientation to PSC-CUNY Bargaining on Zoom.
All dues-paying PSC members are welcome to observe a bargaining session, space permitting, after completing an online Orientation to PSC-CUNY Bargaining. The next orientations will be:
• Wednesday, Feb 14, 1:00-2:00 PM. Click here to register for the 2/14 Zoom.
• Wednesday, February 21, 6:30-7:30 PM. Click here to register for the 2/21 Zoom.
• Monday, March 4, 6:30-7:30 PM. Click here to register for the 3/4 Zoom.
Sing Out, Shout Out, & Count Me In!
More than one thousand PSC members and allies rallied outside the governor’s Midtown office in December to Sing Out for increased funding for CUNY before marching to CUNY Central to Shout Out for a fair contract. Take a moment to watch our video to see what all the singing and shouting was about. Then fill out the “Count Me In!” Pledge Card to tell us what you can do in Spring 2024 to help us win real raises, improved working conditions and better benefits.
COUNT ME IN!
NYC’s Labor Movement Stands with CUNY
Five important NYC labor organizations, including the 150,000 member District Council 37 and the NYC Central Labor Council representing 300 member unions, have endorsed a letter from the PSC opposing the Mayor’s continued cuts to CUNY and other city agencies. The letter, delivered to the Mayor early this week, argues that “The proposed cuts will inevitably diminish vital services affecting everyone, especially the most vulnerable people and families in the five boroughs.” It goes on to say that, “the continued vitality and quality of the CUNY experience for students depends critically on adequate resources for academic programs and staffing.” Read the full letter here.
Fighting Back Against Mid-Year Cuts to Nine Colleges
Millions in college budget reductions and hundreds of canceled courses were announced by college presidents during winter break. At nine CUNY colleges, class enrollment caps were increased, hiring freezes were enforced, adjuncts and other contingent faculty and staff were fired, some losing their health insurance, just days before the start of the Spring semester. Thousands of students’ schedules were upended. The colleges were ordered to make the mid-year cuts by the CUNY Central Administration, who, facing city budget cuts, and the long-term effects of state disinvestment, have chosen to request less City and State funding than is needed to operate the University and to instead extract more “savings” from the colleges. (Read more.)
The Nine: BMCC ▪ Brooklyn College ▪ College of Staten Island ▪ John Jay College ▪ Kingsborough Community College ▪ New York City College of Technology ▪ Queens College ▪ School of Professional Studies ▪ York College
No More Cuts Press Conference at BMCC
PSC members from the nine “colleges of concern,” as CUNY calls them, gathered at BMCC with students and lawmakers on January 19th to oppose managements’ internal cuts. (Release, photos and video.)
Malcolm McDougal III, former full-time substitute professor just laid off by Queens College
Fight Back at Queens and York
During the winter break, as the mid-year cuts came to light, union activists advocated in the media, met with legislators, organized with department chairs, and signed open letters pressuring college presidents to restore jobs and minimize the cuts. PSC chapters at Queens and York Colleges organized actions on the first day of the semester to confront their college presidents about the cuts.
Rally at Queens College
Rally at York College
CUNY Board of Trustees Hearing at John Jay College, Monday, February 5
Notify the Office of the Secretary of the Board of Trustees via email at [email protected] prior to noon on Friday, February 2, if you wish to testify.
PSC members from John Jay and others of the nine colleges of concern are encouraged to register to testify in person for up to three minutes at the next Trustees hearing that will be held Monday, February 5 at 4:30PM in the John Jay College Student Dining Hall, 524 W. 59th St. (Official notice). Email [email protected] before 12 noon this Friday, February 2 to register. Then tell the Chancellor and the Board what it’s like working under continued austerity and how last minute course cancellations and budget cuts harm your students, departments and offices.
Speakout at Brooklyn College, Thursday, February 8
Brooklyn College PSC members will hold a No More Cuts Speakout Thursday, February 8 at 12:30PM in Boylan Hall to rally against the cuts and to demand that President Anderson and Chancellor Matos Rodríguez ask Albany and City Hall for the budget that CUNY needs. RSVP here.
Lobby for CUNY Funding With the PSC and CUNY Students
Dozens of PSC members are traveling to Albany next week for the annual Higher Education Lobby Day organized by our statewide affiliate, NYSUT. It’s too late to sign up for next week, but there will be several other opportunities to be a part of the lobby campaign to win increased state funding for our colleges and pass the New Deal for CUNY.
Student Faculty Staff Higher Education Action Day – Wednesday, February 28th
Registration Deadline: Thursday, February 22, 11:59 PM
The PSC is working in coalition with the CUNY Rising Alliance, CUNY University Student Senate, NYPIRG, NYSUT, United University Professions, SUNY Graduate Student Employees Union and the SUNY Student Assembly to organize a statewide Student, Faculty, Staff Higher Education Action Day in Albany on Wednesday, February 28. Together, we’ll be calling for dramatic increases in State investments in CUNY and SUNY, updated facilities, better financial aid and progress toward a tuition-free future. This is a one-day event with buses departing early in the morning and returning the same evening. Lunch is provided. Register here and we’ll be in touch with you about a PSC bus.
Sign up for Legislative Committee Updates!
PSC’s lobbying in Albany and City Hall and our electoral work is coordinated by members and staff working with the PSC Committee on Legislation. Fill out this form to be connected with the Legislation Committee and to participate in lobby training, additional budget advocacy and electoral campaigns.
Adjunct Pay Dates Spring 2024
For the Spring 2024 semester, teaching adjuncts are scheduled to be paid on eight successive adjunct pay dates. At the senior colleges, the first pay date will be Thursday, February 8 and the last pay date will be Thursday, May 16. At most community colleges, the first pay date will be Friday, February 2 and the last pay date will be Friday, May 10. LaGuardia, Kingsborough, and Guttman community colleges are on a different schedule. Their first and last Spring session pay dates are Friday, March 15 and Friday, June 21, respectively. All dates are posted here on the PSC website.
2024 Updates for Paid Family Leave
For 2024, the maximum Paid Family Leave (PFL) weekly benefit increases to $1,151.16, which is $20.08 more than 2023. The PFL deduction that employees contribute will decrease from 0.455% to 0.373% of their gross wages per pay period up to a maximum payroll deduction of $333.25 for the year. This is $66 less than 2023 and $90 less than 2022. Read more in the PSC’s FAQ on PFL.
PFL for Full-Time Faculty Members
Full-time faculty should be aware that CUNY is stating that any faculty member taking PFL during a semester will lose a corresponding month of annual leave due to being off payroll. The PSC believes this practice is a violation and has filed a class-action grievance against CUNY. If you have been affected by this, please contact [email protected].
Published: January 31, 2024
