Join the PSC Campaign to Tax the Rich | Members’ Testimony at the BoT

PSC members testified before the CUNY Board of Trustees last Tuesday, December 9th at the Board’s annual Manhattan Borough Hearing held this year at the City College of New York. They traveled from campuses throughout the city to demand action from the Board on a range of topics, including urgent threats to health and safety, attacks on academic freedom and the political firing of four CUNY adjuncts, expansion of services for immigrant students, CUNY’s refusal to pay retroactive salary to certain adjuncts, and the CUNY budget request for next fiscal year.

President James Davis’s testimony focused largely on the CUNY budget request and the coming state budget session in Albany. “For CUNY to begin to enter the discussion of worthy needs…the CUNY administration, including the members of this Board, are going to need to join the union in pushing publicly for increased taxes on the ultra-wealthy and on the wealthiest corporations,” he testified.

This page of the PSC website has excerpts of the written testimony provided to the PSC and links to video of all members’ testimony.

Fair-share tax reform will be the issue of the 2026 state budget cycle. Millionaires in our state just received a $12 billion tax cut from the MAGA Republicans in control in Washington, and that cut was financed with deep cuts to federal funding for healthcare and food assistance. But we can offset the federal funding cuts and invest in quality CUNY education and a more affordable New York if Albany leaders have the wherewithal to reclaim some of that money by increasing state and City taxes on corporations and the ultra-wealthy.

To make fair share tax policies a reality, PSC members will be meeting regularly with our state representatives. Our union will also rally to tax the rich inside the State Capitol on Tuesday, February 24th, and we will partner with Our Time, the grassroots mobilization organization that has arisen out of the Mamdani campaign, to door knock and phone bank in support of a more affordable New York. Click here to join our union’s campaign to tax the rich.

SIGN UP FOR THE TAX THE RICH CAMPAIGN

PSC members currently enrolled in the Emblem/GHI comprehensive benefits plan should have received their benefits card and additional information in the mail within the past few days. Unless a participant in Emblem/GHI elected to change plans during the annual November open enrollment period, they were automatically enrolled in the NYCE PPO plan, which goes into effect on January 1, 2026. The sender’s address is NYC Employees PPO Plan, PO Box 21534, Eagan, MN, 55121. If you are enrolled in the NYCE PPO and did not receive your card, please call (212) 501-4444. Additional information about the health plan transition is available on the PSC website and at nyceppo.com.

In November, as part of the rollout of new federal student loan borrowing limits for graduate and professional studies, President Trump’s Department of Education proposed excluding nurses, physician assistants, physical therapists, audiologists, architects, accountants, educators and social workers from the department’s definition of professional degrees.

More than 10,000 AFT members have written to congress urging them to restore the professional designation to these degrees. Click here to send a letter to your federal representatives in the House and Senate.

PSC members were proud to participate this month in NYSUT’s annual Members of Color Conference (MoCAA), which brought together members of color from across the state to connect, share experiences, and build collective strength around equity, inclusion, and leadership in our schools, campuses, and communities.

Back row, left to right: Rulisa Galloway-Perry (HEO Chapter Co-Chair), Laura Stephens (Medgar Evers Delegate),Felicia Wharton (PSC Treasurer), Meshaw Browne (Hunter College Health & Safety Representative), Antonica James (RF Field Units Chapter Chair), Kevin Adams (HEO Chapter Co-Chair); Front: Arturo Enamorado III (KCC Delegate/Legislative Leader for Queens).

The PSC BIPOC Group provides a space specifically designed for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) members to come together, share their experiences, and build community within CUNY and the PSC. Please fill out this form to let us know if you’re interested in joining our group.

PSC members joined faculty, staff and students from The New School last week at a demonstration to oppose drastic cuts to their university. (See more on Instagram.) Workers at the New School are organizing to resist unilateral cuts to salary and pension contributions while being pressed by management to accept “voluntary” separation and early retirement.

Click here to send a letter opposing the cuts to the New School President, Provost, and Board of Trustees.

We also joined Starbucks Workers United for a joint solidarity picket outside of the 2 Broadway Starbucks location (across the street from our union hall) to raise awareness and build solidarity between the ongoing Starbucks strike and our own campaign to Reinstate the Fired Four!

PSC members are continuing to bear witness and support immigrants who are called to the courts at 26 Federal Plaza. Join your colleagues as we continue to escort our neighbors out of the courts. As the holidays approach, our support is appreciated more than ever. Meet us this Thursday and/or Friday at 8:00 AM in front of 319 Broadway, across the street from 26 Federal Plaza. The courts are closed Christmas Day and New Year’s day, but we will be doing court support on Friday, December 26th and Friday, January 2nd. PSC courtwatch training is required to participate. Sign up here via Zoom to attend the next online PSC Courtwatch training on Wednesday, December 17 at 6:30 PM.