Help Organize for a Powerful Strike Authorization Vote
Hundreds of PSC members have already signed up to help assure a maximum turnout and a powerful, united strike authorization vote. You can sign up too, by filling out this online commitment card and choosing one of the training dates listed on the card. The vote will happen in early March.
Getting Informed and Organized: Report on Last Week’s Mass Meeting
“CUNY Union Questions Cuomo’s Progressive Credentials.” That was the PoliticoNY headline the day after hundreds of faculty and staff packed the Great Hall at Cooper Union for a mass meeting Thurs., Nov. 19. At the meeting, President Bowen laid the failure to resolve the PSC-CUNY contract at Governor Cuomo’s feet, saying: “Governor Cuomo cannot call himself a progressive if he is not progressive on CUNY, if he is not willing to make a real investment in the education of the low-income working people, people of color, and immigrants whom CUNY serves… Failure to invest in CUNY faculty and staff represents a political decision not to invest in the people we teach.” Bowen and other PSC leaders and activists also laid out a five-point strategy for winning a fair contract [link], and announced the union’s counter offer. The PSC counter offer calls for increases of a total of 14% over 6 years and includes other proposals to enhance the quality of students’ education, including allowing faculty more time with individual students and establishing employment continuity for adjunct instructors. Learn more.
40,000 Students to Governor: Invest in CUNY and SUNY
More than 40,000 students are urging Governor Cuomo to sign the bi-partisan Maintenance of Effort bill, legislation to protect educational quality at CUNY and SUNY. Postcards signed by the students were delivered to the governor’s office on Fri., Nov. 20 by a coalition of groups, including the PSC, UUP, NYSUT, CUNY University Student Senate (USS) and the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG). PSC President Barbara Bowen spoke in support of the students’ campaign at a press conference. See coverage from the Albany Times Union and a Capital Tonight interview with NYPIRG board chair and SUNY student Alex Bornemisza. Learn more.
Reappointment Notification Deadline for Full-Time Faculty and Adjuncts—Dec. 1
On or before December 1, 2015, CUNY colleges have a contractual obligation to notify all those in tenure-bearing titles and certificate-bearing titles who are in their second or more year of service about their reappointment or non-reappointment. This applies to full-time faculty, instructors, and those in the college lab technicians series. Lecturers in their third year of service and beyond must also be notified by December 1. (First-and second-year lectures must be notified by April 1.) And adjuncts hired solely for the fall semester are also due a notice of reappointment/non-reappointment by December 1. In Clarion, PSC Director of Contract Enforcement Debra Bergan lays out the time frame for challenging a negative decision and steps to take if you are denied reappointment. Read her article, “Denial of reappointment? Know your rights!” Please share this information with your colleagues.
