Banners like this one will be appearing throughout CUNY.
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If you see one, snap a photo and share it on social media with the hashtags #CUNYContractNow #FairPayforAll #7KCUNY.
Tell the Mayor and NYC Council to increase City funding for CUNY
New York City funds about 40% of CUNY community college costs, including collective bargaining, and a small share of senior college costs—a share that hasn’t increased in decades. The City budget process ends in early June, and the Mayor’s Preliminary Executive Budget for CUNY doesn’t increase funding for senior colleges. Send this letter urging your Council member to support increased City funding for wage justice and educational justice at CUNY. Then submit a message to the Mayor on his public comment web form. You can compose your own message to the Mayor or copy/paste from the letter to your Council member.
Article in The Atlantic on the human toll of conditions of academic labor
The April 8 article, “The Death of an Adjunct,” tells the story of Dr. Thea Hunter, who had been an adjunct at City College until she died last December. The article shows how racism and the conditions of academic labor converged to sabotage the career of a promising scholar and celebrated teacher. Dr. Hunter’s death was the subject of testimony before the CUNY Board of Trustees January by a PSC activist, and many PSC colleagues have expressed their profound sorrow—and anger—at her loss. PSC President Barbara Bowen commented: “The punishing conditions of academic labor and adjunct work must be changed. Dr. Hunter’s story is a reminder of the toll they take on individual lives and how lethal they are when combined with racism and sexism. Reading her story has inspired many of us to redouble our efforts to end the exploitation of academic labor.”
Environmental Health and Safety Watchdogs Meeting—Tues., Apr. 16
The next Watchdog workplace health and safety meeting at the PSC will be Tuesday, April 16 from 6-8 PM. (Come at 5:30 for a tasty light supper and conversation!) The meeting will include campus-by-campus sharing of health and safety problems and brainstorming on how to respond. There will also be a special workshop focusing on Public Employee Safety and Health (PESH) complaints. Similar to the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), PESH regulates workplace health and safety conditions for New York State employees. PESH complaints are not cure-alls, but they can be better used as part of the PSC’s strategy to move CUNY to fulfill their obligation to provide us with safe workplaces. Please RSVP by emailing [email protected], and let us know if you have food requirements (vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, etc.).
Labor Goes to the Movies Presents: Far from Heaven—Fri., April 12
The union’s film series will continue its exploration of the theme “Sex & Power” with a screening of Far from Heaven (Haynes, US/France, 2002) this Friday, April 12 in the PSC Union Hall, 61 Broadway, 16th floor. Set in suburban Connecticut in the 1950s, the film imagines interracial romance in the wake of a marriage unraveled by non-normative desire. Doors open at 6:00 PM. Four dollar suggested donation. Light refreshments available. More information.
