Adjuncts working at senior colleges who did not receive their back pay on January 19 (or received an unexpectedly tiny amount), are scheduled to receive their back pay on the next pay date, Thursday, February 2.
Full-time employees who worked overloads as adjuncts or as non-teaching adjuncts during the period between 4/20/2102 and 1/1/2017 may have been issued a separate paper check for the retroactive pay on that work. If you believe you may not have been paid for your work in an adjunct position, please check with your campus HR office to see if they have a paper check for you.
Members with questions about their back pay should get a copy of their pay stub and ask the college Human Resources Office for a copy of their salary history. In order for the union to help you judge the accuracy of your back pay, we need that information. Call the union office at 212-354-1252 or email [email protected].
PSC Endorses Bill de Blasio for Re-election
The PSC has announced its endorsement Mayor Bill de Blasio for re-election. The union is backing de Blasio because of his progressive track record over the last four years, particularly his strong support of public higher education. Read more.
PSC President Barbara Bowen said: “Mayor de Blasio came into office promising to fight for universal pre-K, expand the paid sick leave law to cover thousands more workers, and raise the minimum wage for all City employees and contractors. He did that. He has also, with less public attention, increased funding for the City University of New York. And in the weeks since the election of Donald Trump, he has reaffirmed New York’s status as a sanctuary city. As CUNY faculty and staff, we understand the vital role public higher education plays in combating income inequality, and we know that increased City funding for CUNY is making a difference. We also understand the urgency of asserting a progressive agenda at this political moment. There is still more to be done, and we will work with Mayor de Blasio to advance a progressive agenda for New York.”
PSC Member Denied Entry to U.S.
On Sunday, the PSC sent members a message about Saira Rafiee, a union member and doctoral student at the CUNY Graduate Center who is being denied reentry into the United States, despite having a current visa, due to Trump’s executive order banning the migration of citizens from several Muslim-majority countries. On Monday, President Bowen joined Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, CUNY student government, CUNY DREAMers, and members of the NY Immigration Coalition at a news conference and rally in Brooklyn to speak out in concern for Raifee and to condemn Islamophobia and racism. Rafiee herself urges us to focus on all those affected by the executive order, not just on her case. You can help by calling Senators Schumer and Gillibrand. Use the congressional switchboard (202-225-3121) and urge them to intervene for Saira and to fight for all those imperiled by the executive order.
Sign Up to Lobby with the PSC and CUNY Students
The PSC is calling on the State Legislature to commit to full funding of CUNY, starting with a $300 million investment in new full-time faculty, an increase to $7,000 per course for adjuncts and reduced teaching loads for full-time faculty to allow more time with individual students. But the union cannot make the case in Albany for these critical investments without your help. Faculty, staff and students are the best advocates for the University because they speak from personal experience about the triumphs and challenges of working and learning at CUNY. That’s why the PSC is partnering with NYSUT and United University Professions (UUP) and with student organizations like NYPIRG and USS to organize meetings with lawmakers in Albany. Please sign up today. Transportation, food and hotel costs for the NYSUT Higher Education Lobby Day (March 1-2) and the NYSUT Committee of 100 (March 6-7) are covered by NYSUT. Members can also make the round trip to Albany in one day with students on the buses for the Student/Faculty/Staff Higher Ed Action Day (March 2).
Bring the Fight for Fair Taxation to Albany
PSC members will participate in a revenue-focused day of action at the New York State Capitol in on Tuesday, February 7, the day legislators will hold a hearing on taxes in the State budget. We will join activists from the Strong Economy for All coalition, NYS Council of Churches, Citizen Action and many other groups to demand expansion of the State Millionaires’ Tax, an end to the Billionaires’ Tax Loophole (Wall Street’s Carried Interest Tax loophole) and claw-backs of corrupt corporate welfare program. The program, if implemented, would raise an additional $8 billion that could drive new investments for the public good, including full funding of public universities and k-12 schools. We will be taking a train to Albany at 7:15 AM. To sign up, email PSC Organizing Director Deirdre Brill at [email protected].
International Conference: Global Resistance in the Neoliberal University
The PSC is holding a two-day conference that aims to build international solidarity with teachers, students and academic workers. Closer bonds with colleagues throughout the world will prove invaluable as the PSC builds resistance at CUNY to the university of the Trump era. Speakers from teacher struggles in South Africa, India, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Turkey will join their stories to ours and work with us on common problems and possibilities. Join in resistance to adjunctification, privatization, the explosion of student debt, race and gender oppression, police repression, and the growing drum-beat of war and militarization on our campuses. Space is limited. RSVP required. Download a flyer.
Visit the online calendar for locations and more information
Safety Net Working Group, Feb 1, 12:00pm
Lehman College Chapter Meeting, Feb 1, 3:30pm
First Friday Committee Meeting, Feb 3, 4:00pm
Retiree Chapter Meeting, Feb 6, 12:30pm
