Bargaining Updates 33-35 | 8 Days to get out the vote

After months of negotiations and PSC member agitation, CUNY management finally made a comprehensive counter-proposal at the October 24 bargaining session that modified their opening economic offer of March 27. They also presented a counter-proposal to the PSC’s proposal of September 19 on adjunct job security. Both the comprehensive counter and the adjunct job security proposal are inadequate to the real needs of our members. But they represent progress after a frustrating stalemate.

It’s telling that the new management proposal came right after the mass demonstration when hundreds of PSC members disrupted a Trustees hearing and 30 members were arrested. The offer includes an expansion of paid parental leave from eight weeks to twelve, longevity bonuses after 10 years and 20 years of service at CUNY, additional opportunities for advancement for lecturers and CLTs, the continuation of the remote work agreement through 2027, movement on the remote work demand, additional money on the top salary step, an increase to teaching adjunct compensation, and an increase in contributions to the PSC-CUNY Welfare Fund. All are welcome recognitions of an underlying need. But in no case is the advance adequate. Additional pressure from PSC members and additional work at the table are needed to achieve the strong settlement that PSC members and our students deserve.

Read the full update #35, updates #34 and update #33 here on the PSC website.

Thirty PSC members – faculty and staff representing 13 campuses – were arrested Monday, October 21st, during a contract protest. They blocked the 10th Avenue entrance to CUNY’s John Jay College during a hearing of the Board of Trustees and refused to move until management made an offer that would ensure real raises for workers and a quality college education for students. Hundreds more CUNY faculty and staff, students, and labor allies chanted “Real Raises! Job Security! Contract Now!” during the blockade. Read about it on the PSC website.

On October 21st, five New York City and State elected officials who are also CUNY adjuncts sent a letter to Chancellor Matos Rodríguez and Trustees Chair Bill Thompson expressing their solidarity with the PSC’s campaign for a fair contract.

“CUNY cannot fulfill its mission to be a university for the people without a collective bargaining agreement that is supportive of good working, teaching and learning conditions,” wrote the group, which was organized by State Senator Andrew Gounardes and included State Senator John Liu, Assembly Members Steven Raga and Jessica González-Rojas, and Former City Council member James Vacca. As current or former adjunct faculty at CUNY, they have also supported PSC budget requests in Albany and they know first hand that our contract demands are just. Read the full letter here and share our social media posts about the letter on X and Instagram.

PSC chapters are organizing five picket actions before Thanksgiving to keep the pressure on management for a new and better economic offer. All pickets will be held outside of the CUNY Central Office, at 205 E 42nd St. The first action will be organized by the PSC’s Manhattan chapters on Wednesday, October 30th starting at 4:30 PM. It will have a Halloween theme! Sign up here to participate in the pickets organized by PSC chapter.

All dues-paying members are welcome to observe a bargaining session after they have attended the online orientation. Your next opportunity to attend an orientation is:

• Tuesday, October 29, 6:30 PM. Register here for the 10/29 Zoom.
• Monday, November 18, 6:30pm. Register here for the 11/18 Zoom.

Before our disruption of the CUNY Trustees hearing, PSC-CUNY members testified about the severe, persistent, and toxic spread of mold in libraries across the university. Repeated and escalating mold outbreaks in recent years have caused evacuations, health problems, and the destruction of books and archival materials at several CUNY campuses. Administrators have responded dismissively, failing to address or even fully acknowledge the mold problem, sacrificing library infrastructure, and doubling down on staff cuts. Read our testimony here on the PSC website.

Doctoral students who were on the New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) between 2020 and 2023 should see some extra money one of their next paychecks thanks to a recent PSC arbitration victory.

In 2008, the PSC and CUNY signed an agreement stating that CUNY will contribute 90% of the cost of individual coverage for doctoral students electing to participate in NYSHIP and 75% of the additional cost of dependent coverage for the eligible dependents of doctoral students electing to participate in the NYSHIP healthcare plan.

The PSC filed a grievance alleging that CUNY had decreased the contribution percentages to 88% of the cost for individual coverage and 73% of the cost for dependent coverage without consultation or notification. The PSC presented its case before an arbitrator, who sided with the PSC, ordered CUNY to adhere to the 90/75% cost sharing provision, and directed CUNY to reimburse affected doctoral students.

Doctoral students who were on the NYSHIP health plan between 2020 and 2023 should receive reimbursements in their paychecks issued for the October 31st or November 14th pay periods. Congratulations to the PSC Contract Enforcement Team, the Grad Center Grievance Counselors, and PSC Legal Department for its dogged representation of our members and this exciting win!

Vote Early

The polls in NYC are open Saturday, October 26 through November 2nd for early voting. Click here to find your poll site. This election is crucial for the future of our union, CUNY students and our communities. So, make a plan now to vote early.

Vote Harris/Walz on the Working Families Line

For President and Vice President, vote for Kamala Harris and former AFT member Tim Walz on the Working Families Party (WFP) line. A WFP line vote signals to candidates that you care about policies like access to quality – and free! – quality higher education, improving wages and working conditions, and the right to join a union.

Down ballot congressional elections in New York State could decide control of the House of Representatives and races for seats in the state legislature could affect funding for our university and many other critical issues. Along with our affiliate members at the AFT and NYSUT, the PSC has endorsed a slate of pro-CUNY candidates. Learn more about the state legislative and congressional races in your district on our endorsement page.

Vote YES on Prop 1, NO on 2 – 6

Vote YES on ballot proposal 1 to protect abortion access and protect New Yorkers from discrimination. Vote NO on proposal 2 – 6 to stop Mayor Adams’ attempted power grab.

Labor for Harris/Walz Rally

PSC President James Davis was proud to support Kamala Harris for President and Tim Walz for Vice President at a Labor for Harris/Walz rally held at City Hall Park Wednesday, October 23. “Kamala Harris and Tim Walz have stood consistently for higher education… their records show us what they will do for working people when they are in the White House,” he said. Watch the speech here on the PSC’s Facebook.

Eight Days Left to Get Out the Vote

PSC Phone Bank, Tues., Oct. 29
The PSC’s final general election phone bank will be Tuesday, October 29th, starting at 6 PM. We’ll log on to Zoom together, hear a quick update on the election, and make calls to higher education union members in a crucial swing state. First-time callers are welcome. Register here for the phone bank Zoom.

Labor Walk for Laura Gillen, Freeport, Long Island, Sat., Nov. 2
Long Island is one of the most crucial regions in the country in this year’s congressional elections. PSC/CUNY is supporting these pro-higher education candidates in these crucial swing districts on Long Island: John Avlon in District 1, Tom Suozzi in District 3 and Laura Gillen in District 4. Your vote and volunteer time can make a difference!

On Saturday, November 2nd, join PSC volunteers and other AFL-CIO members in person as we canvas for Laura Gillen on Long Island and take back Congress. Plan to meet us at 10 AM, at 29 W. Sunrise Highway, Freeport, NY. Email Tiffany Brown at [email protected] for information about carpooling.