March With Us at No Kings, 3/28 | Clarion Online

Our country does not belong to strongmen, billionaires, or those who rule through fear and violence. It belongs to the people. We have the power and are claiming it together. No hate! No fear! No ICE! No Kings!

More than 2,000 events are already set for Saturday, March 28th, including a demonstration with hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers. In NYC, marchers will gather on Central Park South and step off at 2 PM heading south in two streams down Broadway and 7th Avenue before converging at Times Square and continuing on to end at 34th Street.

The PSC and other unions will march down Broadway. The meet-up location for PSC members will be announced next week. Register here to tell us you plan to march with the PSC at the next No Kings.

RSVP: NO KINGS!

With St. John’s University just hours away from the Big East men’s basketball tournament, supporters of the SJU faculty labor unions will gather for a press conference outside Madison Square Garden to say, “Union-busting is a flagrant foul!”

SJU President Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. announced in February that the university will no longer recognize its two unions—the St. John’s University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors (SJU-AAUP) and the Faculty Association (FA).

PSC President James Davis will be at MSG to condemn the university’s union busting and deliver a solidarity message from PSC members. Email PSC communications director Fran Clark at [email protected] if you’d like to attend and hold an “In Solidarity” sign. Plan to be there Wednesday at 11 AM at the 2 Pennsylvania Plaza entrance of MSG (7th Ave and W. 32nd St.).

City Hall Steps, Tuesday, March 17, 12 PM, RSVP

CUNY Rising Alliance groups will gather on the steps of City Hall next Tuesday to urge the Mayor and City Council to increase City funding for our university. The City funds roughly three-quarters of CUNY community college operations. The Mayor’s preliminary budget is out, but the budget is not final till June, so the time is now to raise our collective voice. Joined by City Council Higher Education Chair Rita Joseph and other elected allies, we will demand quality CUNY for All, a fully staffed CUNY for All, and, ultimately, a free and fully funded CUNY for All.

In this year’s budget, that means replenishing the ranks of the full-time faculty and staff, free transit for CUNY students, protecting grant-funded programs, and expanding proven student success programs like CUNY Reconnect, ASAP and ACE.

RSVP here to attend the press conference.

The State Senate and Assembly budget resolutions announced last night, March 9, support some of the progressive tax revenue raisers that the PSC and our coalition partners have been campaigning for. (See Spectrum News for more information.) These resolutions are not the final budget; they identify priorities of each house and set the table for the remaining budget negotiation. The Assembly would increase funding for Opportunity Programs like SEEK and College Discovery, establish Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) awards for graduate students, and raise the income eligibility thresholds for TAP awards and the Excelsior Scholarship.

In response to the progress made on progressive taxation in the one-house budgets, PSC President James Davis released a statement, which began:

“We are encouraged that many legislators are willing to be bold in the face of federal attacks, a looming City deficit, and a deepening affordability crisis. The revenue raisers endorsed this evening by the State Senate and Assembly have broad support among voters because they are fair. Now it’s time for the Governor to work with the Legislature to offset the federal funding cuts, close the deficit, and devote long-term ongoing investments in a statewide affordability agenda. Increasing taxes on New York’s highest earners and wealthiest corporations should not be controversial….”

Click here to read the full statement.

Last Friday morning, March 6, the PSC joined a large and diverse coalition of elected officials, unions, and community groups to demand that Governor Hochul tax the rich in New York City and statewide and direct the revenue to the programs our communities need to thrive! Check out the PSC’s Instagram for a video of President James Davis’s statement.

PSC leaders and healthcare experts are monitoring the rollout of the New York City Employee PPO, the new health insurance plan for active employees, pre-Medicare retirees, and their dependents that took effect January 1st of this year. Union staff will help answer any questions you may have. Submit your questions here.

More than 350 members and allies have now been trained to participate with the PSC in supporting immigrants in the courtrooms. With an average of 15 – 25 people attending each week, we have made more than 900 discrete visits since May. Please join with fellow PSC members to bear witness and support immigrants who are called to the courts at 26 Federal Plaza. Spanish speakers are especially helpful. Meet any Friday at Pret, 7:30 AM at 319 Broadway, across the street from 26 Federal Plaza. PSC training is required to participate and a refresher is strongly recommended if you were trained more than two months ago. The next zoom training will be held on Thursday, March, 19th at 6:30PM. RSVP here.

Two new dates have been set for the BIPOC Working Group Art Build, originally scheduled for last month and postponed due to inclement weather. Join our union’s BIPOC Working Group at 6 PM on March 24th and April 21st to help create a beautiful new banner for our working group! No prior experience or art skills are necessary, and all are welcome. Your presence is an act of solidarity! Sign up for either or both dates using the form here. Refreshments will be served at both events.

Dues-paying PSC members can access free services and discounts provided by our state and national affiliates, New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), the National Education Association (NEA), and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

PSC members can enroll in the Legal Service Plan for an annual fee of just $80. The fee covers unlimited calls for legal advice weekdays 9 AM – 5 PM, plus a hotline during off hours. Two free hour-long office consultations per year, and free review of certain legal documents. A Legal Security Package that includes a Simple Will, Health Care Proxy, Living Will, and Power of Attorney is included each year. Enrollees are also guaranteed very reasonable maximum fees for more than a dozen personal legal matters. The plan covers your spouse or domestic partner and unmarried dependent children. Click here for the brochure and here for a webpage with more information, including how to apply.

Adjunct members who are not retirees may qualify for the free Legal Assistance Plan, which includes unlimited telephone advice and consultation with an attorney. This free plan also includes a simple will, living will, health care proxy and power of attorney every three years for you and your spouse or domestic partner. Click here for the plan description and here for more information. You can also call 800-626-8101 for more information and to confirm eligibility.

Clarion has transitioned to a fully digital format. With online-only publishing, we’ll release new content more often, no longer tied to monthly updates, and continue expanding our newsletter with deeper coverage and updates.