New York State voters are heading to the polls this week for the midterm congressional elections and to elect a governor, statewide officials and 213 state legislators. Early voting ends Sunday, November 6, and Election Day is Tuesday, November 8. Find your poll site.
The PSC and our statewide affiliate NYSUT have endorsed Kathy Hochul for reelection as Governor. You can find all our endorsements on the union website.
The PSC urges our members to vote Kathy Hochul for Governor on the Working Families Party (WFP) line. We won the biggest funding increases for CUNY in decades under Kathy Hochul. A CUNY Rising Alliance member and an affiliate of the PSC, the WFP has led successful efforts to raise the state minimum wage, pass tenant protections, and win record funding for our public schools. The WFP is working to get over 200,000 votes for governor on their line in this election so they can stay on the ballot for the next two years.
Act Now to Stop Mid-Year Cuts to CUNY
As the City faces a potential recession, CUNY needs increased funding to reduce racialized economic inequality and strengthen our workforce and our communities. But instead of investing in CUNY operations, the mayor is planning a three-percent budget cut. Mid-year cuts would cause a profound disruption at CUNY, and they are not warranted based on the existing evidence. Write to your NYC Council Member and urge them to reject proposed cuts to CUNY
–>SEND A LETTER<– –>LOBBY<–
Protect Our Health Insurance
PSC members and allies have sent 4,462 letters to the City Council urging them to oppose a change in City Administrative Code that would allow the City to shift its retirees from traditional Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan and open a door to future changes to the quality or cost of health insurance for active employees. Our pressure is working! City Council members have refused to take up the bill. But the Mayor is threatening to remove all other health insurance options for retirees and impose premiums for active employees if retirees are not shifted to Medicare Advantage.
This fight affects all of us! Sign up to lobby your City Council member, and if you haven’t sent the letter to the City Council, send it today!
–>SEND A LETTER<– –>LOBBY<–
Get Ready for Union Week, Dec. 5-9
Union Week, Monday, December 5 – Friday, December 9, will be an all-out, CUNY-wide push to demand State and City budgets that align with the #NewDeal4CUNY and fund our Contract for #APeoplesCUNY with real raises. The CUNY budget request will be under review by the CUNY Trustees that week, the Governor will be developing their next Executive Budget and CUNY may still be at risk for mid-year City budget cuts. It’s just the right time to mobilize.
Sign up below for the first city-wide Union Week actions and stay tuned for announcements about events on your campus or in your borough.
On Monday 12/5 Wear #Red4HigherEd
Wear #Red4HigherEd Monday, December 5 to kick off Union Week and share your photos online. Let us know you’ll be wearing red!
–>I WILL WEAR RED<–
Testify with the PSC
Testify before the CUNY Trustees at their public hearing Mon., Dec. 5, 4:30PM. Tell them in three minutes or less why they must approve a budget request that aligns with the #NewDeal4CUNY and funds our Contract for #APeoplesCUNY with real raises. The location has not yet been announced.
–>I WILL TESTIFY<–
Anti-Bullying Workshop:
Member Rights, Bullying and the Contract
November 10, 6:30-8:00 PM, on Zoom
Under the current contract, what can you do right now if you are being bullied? Faye Moore, PSC Director of Contract Administration and University-wide Grievance Counselor will be providing information and education about members’ rights, bullying and contract enforcement.
RSVP 11/10 Workshop
Improvements to Paid Family Leave
For 2023, the maximum Paid Family Leave (PFL) benefit is $1,131.08, an increase of $62.72 from 2022. The Paid Family Leave deduction amount that employees contribute will decrease from 0.511% to 0.455% of their gross wages per pay period. The list of family members for whom eligible workers can take Paid Family Leave to care for will expand to include siblings with a serious health condition. This includes biological siblings, adopted siblings, step siblings and half-siblings. Read more in the PSC’s FAQ on paid Family Leave.
Environmental Health & Safety Watchdogs Events
In mid-October, PSC’s Environmental Health and Safety Watchdogs hosted Long COVID and Workers’ Compensation, the first in a series of online events the committee will present this year. Click below for the video of the event, which featured presentations and Q&A with the Watchdogs and an attorney who specializes in Workers Compensation cases.
