Hold CUNY accountable for pay delay!
It’s time to let Chancellor Milliken and the CUNY trustees know how much hardship has been caused by CUNY management’s failure to act with urgency to pay our raises. Please join President Bowen at the next public hearing of the Board of Trustees and testify for three minutes about the impact of the delayed payments on your own life. The hearing will be held at Baruch College, 55 Lexington Avenue in Manhattan, starting at 5:00 PM on Mon., Sept. 19. Those who wish to speak must be signed up by Fri., Sept. 16. Click here to let us know that you plan to testify, and we will sign you up. (If you cannot be there on the 19th, you may submit written testimony. Click here and the union office will take care of copying and submitting it. But it’s best to be there in person.)
Vote! Primary Elections Tomorrow, Tues, Sept 13
The PSC and its statewide affiliate, New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), have endorsed these candidates for elections this fall because of their support for public education and CUNY. Electing more progressive, pro-CUNY candidates like these could influence the politics of New York State and lead to increased investment in our resource-starved university. So make a plan to vote tomorrow, Tues., Sept. 13. Polls will be open 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM. Visit www.vote.nyc.ny.us to find your poll site. Here’s a guide to all the primaries happening tomorrow from PoliticoNY.
New Full-time Faculty and Staff Have 30 Days to Choose a Pension Plan
New full-time faculty and staff members at CUNY have 30 days from the effective date of their appointment to choose a retirement program, and the choice is irrevocable. If no choice is filed within 30 days, the law mandates that the member be assigned to the New York Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS). See the Full-Timer Pension Benefits section of the PSC website for more information. Part-time faculty and staff members don’t have a similar deadline, but waiting to sign up for pension benefits may mean leaving retirement money on the table. See Part-Time Pension Benefits. New CUNY employees may not be on the PSC’s email lists, so please help spread the word.
LIU Lockout Update
Faculty at LIU Brooklyn are still locked out after their management refused the union’s offer to end the lockout with a five-week contract extension and mediation. Scabs are “teaching” courses and LIU students are furious. The Long Island University Faculty Federation (LIUFF) is working with the American Federation of Teachers and coordinating with student groups to organize this week’s response: student walkouts/rallies at 12 noon, Monday-Wednesday; a pop-up university/teach-in Wednesday at 2:30 PM; and a vigil for LIU Wednesday at 4:30 PM (plus other events for LIU faculty). Plans could change, so check the LIU webpage and follow #LIUlockout on social media for updates. PSC members are urged to turn out in solidarity and to donate to the AFT-hosted solidarity fund; an injury to one is an injury to all!
Fight For $15 Presidential Debate Protest—Mon., Sept. 26
The first presidential debate is September 26 at Hofstra University. The Fight for $15 is mobilizing for a massive rally outside the debate to tell the candidates that low-wage and exploited workers won’t be ignored any longer. Sixty-four million working people in this country make less than $15 an hour. Forty percent of American workers now have jobs subject to some form of contingency. Exploited workers in the service industry and academia and everywhere in between make a powerful voting bloc. September 26 is a chance for them to say to the next president: If you want our vote, come get it.
The rally will take place 6-7:30 PM. The main bus departure location will be in front of the 32BJ building (25 W 18th St., Manhattan). Heavy traffic is anticipated, so the meet-up time for the buses is 2:30 PM. PSC members can sign up for a seat on a bus and RSVP for the rally here . A union organizer will contact you with more details. Here’s a flyer to help spread the word.
Ed Walk for Equity in School Funding, Oct. 2-11
October 10 is the 10-year anniversary of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity court decision, which ruled that the state is systemically underfunding Black, Latino, and low-income students in many districts across New York. But Albany isn’t providing the court-ordered funding that many school districts need and students are still suffering from systemic neglect. The Alliance for Quality Education is walking 150 miles to Albany to mark the anniversary and demand that NYS fully fund education in every district in New York. The CUNY Rising Alliance is supporting the effort, and you can too, by walking the NYC leg of the journey or attending the kick-off event at City Hall, Tues., Oct. 2 at 10 AM. Click here to sign up with AQE and to see the full schedule and route of the walk. Follow #EdWalk on social media to stay up to date.
Visit the online calendar for locations and more information
Grad Center HEO Meeting, Sept 13, 12:30pm
Queens College CLT Meeting, Sept 13, 12:00pm
Safety Net Committee, Sept 14, 12:00pm
Queens College Chapter Meeting, Sept 14, 12:30pm
Committee on the Militarization of CUNY Meeting, Sept 14, 6:30pm
City College Chapter Meeting, Sept 15, 12:00pm
Delegate Assembly, Sept 15, 6:30pm
Queens College HEO Meeting, Sept 16, 12:30pm
Environmental Justice Committee, Sept 19, 6:00pm
Brooklyn College Chapter Meeting, Sept 20, 12:30pm
Legislation Committee Meeting, Sept 20, 6:00pm
