Responding to MAGA Republicans’ Cynical Attack on Higher Education
CUNY Chancellor Félix Matos Rodríguez testified alongside top administrators from U.C. Berkeley and Georgetown yesterday, Tuesday, July 15, at a hearing of the House Education and Workforce Committee. The hearing was the ninth in a series that have purported to be about combating antisemitism. In reality, the hearings are part of a broad, systematic attack on higher education. Read about it in The City, the NY Daily News and the Chronicle of Higher Education.
PSC President James Davis released a statement in response to Chancellor’s testimony and the mischaracterizations of MAGA Republicans like New York State Rep. Elise Stefanik:
“This hearing is another cynical attempt to use real anxiety about rising antisemitism to ambush university leaders, smear faculty, slash funding, and delegitimize institutions that are essential for a working democracy. An administration that is serious about confronting civil rights violations would not move to decimate the Department of Education, including the Office of Civil Rights, as Trump and his congressional allies have just done….” Click here for the full statement.
Faculty Unions and NYC Electeds to MAGA Republicans: Hands Off Higher Ed! Hands Off CUNY!
A day before the hearing, PSC, AFT, and AAUP defended free expression and academic freedom on college campuses and opposed the MAGA Republican assault on American Universities. PSC members gathered with NYC elected officials in City Hall Park for a press conference resisting MAGA’s new McCarthyism and condemning the recent firing of four CUNY faculty members apparently for their protected political expression. Click here for the press release. Photos, quotes and videos are posted on the PSC’s Instagram. An interview with President James Davis and coverage of the press event were featured on NY1’s Inside City Hall.
Rally and March with the PSC Tomorrow
“Good Trouble Lives On in Us" Mass Mobilization
Meet at 5:00PM, Thursday, July 17, Foley Square
Join your PSC colleagues and thousands of fellow New Yorkers as we rally and march tomorrow, Thursday, July 17th, in remembrance of John Lewis and in defense of civil rights: Good Trouble Lives On In Us. PSC members will meet at 5:00 PM to distribute signs in front of the New York County Supreme Court (60 Centre St, New York, NY 10007) before joining the 5:30 rally in Foley Square. The action will include a march circling 26 Federal Plaza and a final moment of silence and solidarity. RSVP to join the PSC contingent now. Make good trouble!
RSVP: GOOD TROUBLE, JULY 17
PSC Members Defending Immigrant Rights in the Courts
Every Friday morning this summer, PSC members who have gone through a union training are gathering at the immigration courthouse in Lower Manhattan to support immigrant New Yorkers. Since June, ICE and DHS have had an increased presence in NYC federal courtrooms as they accelerate cruel detentions and deportations. We do not confront or interfere in any way with law enforcement, but by distributing valuable information and observing hearings, we are able to support those who attend legally mandated hearings. If you are interested in joining the work of the Immigrant Solidarity Working Group, or if you want to attend a training to be a courtroom observer or to distribute fliers in front of the federal courts, sign up here. We will announce the date of the next Zoom training soon.
Upcoming Bonuses and Retroactive Paychecks
Deadlines to Increase Retirement Withholdings
Ratification bonuses for eligible part-time employees and retroactive pay and wage increases for all eligible employees will be implemented over the next four weeks. Then the next scheduled raises will then come in September. Here is the schedule:
- July 24: Pro-rated ratification bonus for eligible part-time employees paid by the state.
- Aug. 1: Pro-rated ratification bonus for eligible part-time employees paid by the city.
- Aug. 1: Wage increases (not retroactive) for all eligible employees paid by the city
- Aug. 7: Wage increases (retroactive to 2023) for all eligible employees paid by the state.
- Aug. 15: Retroactive pay (to 2023) for all eligible employees paid by the city.
- Sept. 4: 3.25% Sept. 1, 2025 contractual salary increase for eligible employees paid by the state.
- Sept. 12: 3.25% Sept. 1, 2025 contractual salary increase for eligible employees paid by the city.
For those considering increasing retirement withholdings for the retroactive payments:
Recent guidance from CUNY HR reminds us that adjustments to retirement withholdings typically take some time before they are reflected in your paycheck. Speak to your campus Benefits Officer for information and materials on CUNY’s various retirement savings plans and consult an accountant, tax advisor, or a financial advisor to determine your best option.
- Senior college employees in TIAA TDA 403(b) must increase their contribution for the August 7 retroactive paycheck by July 21; community college employees must increase their contribution for the August 15 retroactive paycheck by August 5.
- The deadlines have already passed for both Senior College and Community College employees to increase their contributions to TRS TDA 403(b) for the retroactive paychecks.
- Senior college employees in the New York State Deferred Compensation Plan 457(b) (NYSDCP) must increase their contribution for the August 7 retroactive paycheck by 3 PM, July 22; community college employees must increase their contribution for the August 15 retroactive paycheck by 3 PM, July 28.
Please contact your campus Benefits Officer and refer to the guidance from CUNY at this link for more information on changing retirement withholdings and links to forms. The PSC cannot offer financial advice.
Published: July 16, 2025
