PSC Testifies at Joint Budget Hearing
PSC President Barbara Bowen and First Vice President Steve London joined leaders from United University Professions (UUP) and New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) on Thursday to urge legislators to oppose the Governor’s proposed cuts to CUNY and reverse the long-established trend of underinvestment in public higher education. In her testimony before a joint legislative hearing on the Executive Budget, Barbara Bowen pressed the legislature to pursue revenue measures that would help balance the state budget without targeting the most vulnerable New Yorkers.
“At a time when New York State has the highest income inequality in the country, CUNY remains one of the most potent means to move out of poverty. The Governor’s budget represents a choice to block that movement for thousands of New Yorkers,” she testified.
Defending the Social Safety Net
The PSC’s Social Safety Net Group, an initiative started by the Retirees Chapter and recently expanded into a union-wide campaign, is seeking testimony from members whose lives were made more secure because of Social Security as they – or family members – faced issues involving retirement, disabilities, loss of parent, or loss of spouse. The committee is interested in putting a “human face” together with the intellectual arguments needed to protect Social Security from the efforts to diminish its benefits.
If you have a story about Social Security benefits that you would like to share with the membership, click here for a form to write and submit testimony (and here to find out more about the Defend the Social Safety Net campaign).
Members Take Action in Albany
PSC members will join colleagues from around the state at NYSUT’s Extraordinary One Day Committee of 100 lobbying event this Tuesday, February 15. Part of our continuing statewide resistance against the Governor’s cuts to lower and higher education, meetings with legislators at the event will focus on both the specific issues that hurt CUNY and on calls for realistic, progressive revenue-enhancements like the personal income tax surcharge (the millionaires’ tax) the closure of corporate loopholes. Members will also oppose the proposed property tax cap in their meetings. For a satirical look at the affects of a tax cap, visit badcapcitynews.org
Member-lobbying efforts are also scheduled in Albany on Monday and Tuesday, March 7-8 and on March 15, 21-22, and May 9-10. To sign up for Albany legislator visits, contact Amanda Magalhaes (212-354-1252 ext 221).
Budget Briefing and Advocacy Training for CUNY Students, Faculty and Staff
On Saturday, February 26, PSC will host a budget briefing and advocacy training for CUNY students and members to support the campaign to fight cuts to CUNY and prepare for the Student-Faculty Higher Education Action Day in Albany next month. The February 26th training program will be at 61 Broadway from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Attendees will learn about the City and State budget processes, the Governor’s proposed cuts to CUNY. Lobby and media training will also be on the agenda. Please share the flier with your students and colleagues. To sign up, contact Amanda Magalhaes (212-354-1252 ext 221).
