Sing Out, Shout Out for #APeoplesCUNY
Saturday, December 2, 1–3 PM
Tell Us You Will Be There
CUNY has been underfunded for too long, and budget cuts, understaffing and uncompetitive pay have been the results. Come Sing Out for increased CUNY funding at the Governor’s Midtown office and Shout Out for a strong union contract at CUNY Central. Meet at Governor Hochul’s NYC office, 633 3rd Ave, and be ready to sing, chant and march a few blocks to CUNY.
Open call for Musicians
PSC member musicians, vocalists, and performers who would consider donating their talents to the event should contact Ava Farkas at [email protected].
RSVP: SING OUT, 12/2
SING OUT PROMO MATERIALS
Stand for Freedom of Speech and Assembly at CUNY
Cosign this PSC Letter to the Chancellor
In consultation with the union’s Academic Freedom Committee, PSC President James Davis wrote the Chancellor urging him to affirm freedom of expression and freedom of assembly at CUNY. The letter is posted on the PSC website in petition form so that all PSC members have the opportunity to endorse the message. Please add your name to it.
The letter begins:
“We call on you to affirm the fundamental freedoms of expression and assembly at CUNY, rights which you have abridged since the horrific October 7 Hamas attacks on Israeli civilians and Israel’s ongoing bombing and mounting casualties in Gaza. Your failure to do so has sent a chilling message.”
The letter concludes quoting from the statement On Freedom of Expression and Campus Speech Codes from the American Association of University Professors (AAUP):
“Free speech is not simply an aspect of the educational enterprise to be weighed against other desirable ends. It is the very precondition of the academic enterprise itself.”
ADD YOUR NAME TO THE PSC LETTER
AAUP: Academic Freedom in Times of War
The PSC is a proud affiliate of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), which has been defending academic freedom in higher education since its inception in 1915. The AAUP released a statement this week, Academic Freedom in Times of War, which begins:
“It is in tumultuous times that colleges’ and universities’ stated commitments to protect academic freedom are most put to the test. As the Israel-Hamas war rages and campus protests proliferate, institutional authorities must refrain from sanctioning faculty members for expressing politically controversial views and should instead defend their right, under principles of academic freedom, to do so.” Read the full statement.
Five Boroughs in Five Weeks
Brooklyn: Contract Rally, Nov 1, 4:30 PM
Elected officials will join faculty, staff, and students from PSC Brooklyn campuses at a Halloween | Day of the Dead themed contract and budget rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall Wednesday, November 1, 4:30-6:30 PM. Bring your family and come in costume.
RSVP: BROOKLYN RALLY BROOKLYN RALLY FLIER
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Bronx: March on the Presidents, 11/9
Chapters’ Petitions Demand Contract Actions from College Presidents
Bronx Community College, Hostos Community College and Lehman College PSC chapters are collecting signatures on petitions demanding that their college presidents act on local issues and press the Chancellor in support of our contract demands. All three chapters will march on their respective college presidents’ offices on Thursday, November 9 to deliver the petitions.
Bronx CC Petition Hostos CC Petition Lehman Petition
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Queens Speaks Out
PSC members from CUNY campuses throughout Queens rallied at York College, Tuesday, October 24, speaking out for a strong and just union contract and increased funding for CUNY. See more photos here and on the PSC’s Instagram.
PSC Members Vote
Early voting in the general elections for New York City Council begins this Saturday, October 28, 9 AM – 5 PM. It continues, with varying hours, until Sunday, November 5 (schedule and poll site finder at NYCVotes.org). Election Day is Tuesday, November 7.
Click here for the list of PSC-endorsed City Council candidates.
There are also two statewide questions about amendments to the State Constitution on the ballot. The PSC, as an affiliate of the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), is supporting Ballot Proposal 1: Removal of Small City School Districts From Special Constitutional Debt Limitation. (Learn more from NYC Votes and more from NYSUT.) The union has no position on Ballot Proposal 2: Extending Sewage Project Debt Exclusion from Debt Limit.
Catastrophic Sick Leave Bank
Open Enrollment Period Ends Tues., Oct. 31
CUNY’s Catastrophic Sick Leave Bank is a pool of voluntarily donated sick leave and annual leave available for potential use as sick leave by all annual full-time employees at CUNY who are also donors to the bank. The open enrollment period for the Catastrophic Sick Leave Bank is October 1 – 31. Workers must donate leave in a program year to be eligible to receive leave in that year (up to 90 days). Click here for program requirements and to learn how to donate and receive leave from the bank.
CLT Unity Day Event
6:30 PM, November 15
In-Person & on Zoom
RSVP Here.
The PSC’s cross-campus chapter of College Laboratory Technicians will gather in the Union Hall (25 Broadway, 15th Floor) and on Zoom at 6:30 PM Wednesday, November 15 to celebrate CLT Unity Day 2023 and recognize this year’s CLT Unsung Heros. The University could not operate without the hard work and professionalism of CLTs. RSVP is required.
Unsung Heroes Award Nominations
PSC members in all titles are invited to nominate their CLT colleagues who have “positively influenced a department, program, college or organization from behind the scenes with a positive attitude, willingness to help in whatever capacity necessary, and a commitment to excellence.” Make your nomination here before the November 6th deadline.
Want to Observe Contract Negotiations?
The first step is to attend an Orientation to PSC-CUNY Bargaining.
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 orientation is scheduled for Monday, November 6, 6:30-7:30 PM (register for the 11/6 Zoom).
Published: October 27, 2023 | Last Modified: October 30, 2023
