Build Student Support for the Contract Fight
Wear a T-Shirt at Work
Two bargaining sessions are scheduled this week—and we need to see real movement from the CUNY Administration on the union’s contract demands. You can help keep the pressure on the CUNY bosses by clicking here to join the many PSC members who have pledged to wear a t-shirt in class/at work. CUNY students need to know that the lack of a PSC-CUNY contract is damaging the University’s competitiveness and stalling progress, affecting the quality of their education. That’s why the shirts say, “Five Years without a Union Contract Hurts CUNY Students’’—and on the back: “Ask Me Why.” (Spanish-language shirts will also be available, upon request) This page of the PSC website has a few suggestions on what to say to students and actions that students can take to show their support. PSC chapters have begun distributing the t-shirts already; if you sign up online, we’ll make sure your chapter chair has one for you. Most chapters will also have pledge forms and t-shirts available on the spot at chapter meetings and tabling events happening this week and next week.
Spread the Word about Junior Faculty Development Day—Fri., Apr. 17
The challenges newly hired faculty face can be daunting, but they don’t have to face them alone. There is still space available at PSC’s Junior Faculty Development Day this Friday, April 17 from 12-5 PM. It’s an afternoon of workshops and presentations from department chairs, tenured faculty and union officers organized to help new faculty navigate the tenure process and utilize the resources available at CUNY to support their scholarship. If you’re a newly hired faculty member who wishes to attend, contact Deirdre Brill at [email protected]. If you know colleagues who would benefit from the day, please share this message and this flier with them.
Review Your Personnel File Week—Apr. 20-24
The PSC recommends that EVERY employee—full- and part-time faculty, HEOs, and CLTs—review and initial their personal personnel file at least once a year to verify its accuracy. The contract (Article 19) gives you the right to do so. Your personal file is the representation of your work and professional history at CUNY. Decisions about reappointment, promotion, certification and tenure are made, in part, based on its contents. Make sure yours is accurate and up to date. Make a commitment to review your file the week of April 20-24 or soon thereafter.
Rally for Adjunct Faculty and All Low-Wage Workers—Today, Wed., Apr. 15
Student workers, adjunct faculty and their allies will gather today at 5:00 PM at Columbia University to demand better pay and better treatment from the academy before marching to join protesters at a nearby fast food restaurant. The demonstration will be part of a nationwide mobilization of low-wage workers in support of the Fight for $15 campaign, which is demanding fair wages and union rights for low-wage workers in all sectors of the economy. Here in NYC, fast food cashiers and cooks, retail employees, child care workers, home care providers, airport workers, college students and adjunct professors are all part of the campaign. For more information on planned actions in NYC, register here.
Labor Goes to the Movies Presents, Chinatown—Fri., Apr. 17
This year’s Labor Goes to the Movies film series presents films that take the threat of apocalypse as their premise. The series continues this Fri., Apr. 17 with a screening of Chinatown (1974, US, Roman Polanski). Based on a true story about ecological, financial and sexual crimes in Los Angeles during the 1930s, Chinatown is one of the great American films of the 20th century. Though set in the 1930s, the film was far ahead of its time, tracing the perverse reverberations of the battle over water rights in California. The film was nominated for 11 Oscars, including Best Director, Screenwriter, Actor (Jack Nicholson), and Actress (Faye Dunaway). Door open at 6 PM. A discussion will follow the film. Light refreshments provided. Learn more.