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Homework Hotline

The PSC is teaming up with the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), the union representing 42,000 nurses in New York, to create the Homework Hotline-an initiative to provide academic support to the children of nurses while their parents are risking their lives to keep other New Yorkers safe. I am writing to invite you to participate by volunteering an hour or two a week to be available to help the children of nurses with their classes or homework.

Many of us have been looking for ways to support frontline workers, especially healthcare workers, in this terrible epidemic. One thing we can do is volunteer some time for their children, who have had to cope with distance learning and parents working long and grueling shifts in hospitals. I feel grateful for the opportunity to have something to offer, even if it's small, to those who are offering so much.

If you can volunteer an hour or two a week, sign up here and specify the time you are available and the subject in which you are qualified to offer academic help. The subject areas have been kept broad because we anticipate that most of the students requesting help will be in elementary or secondary school. For now we have limited the subject areas to: Math, English, Science, Social Science, Spanish and, possibly, other languages. We may add more if there is a need for more or if greater specialization is needed.

HEOs: Did you receive your appointment letter?

If you were hired prior to October 1, 2019, and you are on a one-year appointment or completing year two of a two-year appointment, you should have received notification regarding your reappointment no later than April 1. If you did not receive notification, or if you received notice of non-reappointment, please contact the grievance representative for your campus.

Higher Education Officers In-House Counselors
Faye Moore, PSC Coordinator of Contract Administration fmoore@pscmail.org
Emma Powell, PSC Coordinator of Contract Administration epowell@pscmail.org
Alex Romeo, HEO Grievance Counselor aromeo@pscmail.org

HEO Counselor Campus Assignments
Faye Moore: Baruch, BCC/BxEOC, Central Office, GCC, HCCS, KCC, Lehman, MEC, NYCT
Emma Powell: BMCC/MEOC, CCNY, CSI, Grad Center, Hostos, Hunter, JJ, QCC, York/QEOC
Alex Romeo: Brooklyn, LaGuardia, Queens

PSC Statement in Response to Delay in April Raises for State Workers

The PSC stands in solidarity with the workers represented by the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) and the NYS Corrections Officers Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA), whose raises scheduled for this month will be delayed by New York State for at least 90 days. Thousands of CSEA and NYSCOPBA members are on the front line of the COVID-19 pandemic, risking their health and the health of their families to keep the state’s essential services operating. Hundreds have tested positive for the virus, and many face dangerous working conditions daily. It is outrageous that union workers would be denied their modest collectively bargained raises at this enormously difficult time.

A week ago, New York State enacted a budget that refused to add a single new tax on the rich; now it attempts to close budget gaps by punishing the working class. New York must stop balancing the budget on the backs of working people and start increasing taxes on billionaires and the ultra-rich, as it did during the 2008 recession and other crises. Progressive revenue proposals with broad public support that were left out of the enacted budget must be reconsidered as the true economic and budgetary impact of the pandemic becomes known. While restoring the State budget will also require federal funding, New York must not fail to enact fair taxes on those who can afford to pay and who have benefited from the work of State employees.

The next collectively bargained raise for CUNY faculty and professional staff represented by the PSC is scheduled for November 15, 2020. The PSC has not been notified of any effect on negotiated raises for CUNY workers. We will keep you informed as new information becomes available.

Submitting "Telecommuting" Plans

Good afternoon, PSC Members,

I hope you are staying well and have had time to take care of yourselves and those you love.

PSC letter to CUNY about college-issued remote work notices

Earlier today (Thurs., April 2), President Bowen sent the message below to CUNY’s head of Labor Relations demanding immediate suspension of college-issued “guidelines” related to remote work. The PSC has the legal right to negotiate any changes in terms and conditions for work, hours, supervision and related issues. Also, two weeks ago the union made an explicit demand for reimbursement of expenses employees incurred at home doing required work that would not normally be conducted at home.

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Update on “Recalibration Period"

Dear Colleagues:

First, I hope you are in good health. My thoughts go out to any PSC members who are sick or caring for others, especially to our members in the healthcare fields.

New Definition of Essential Personnel

Good afternoon, Members and Colleagues,

I hope you are well. The PSC continues to work to ensure that you are safe on the job, and we have begun to make progress on negotiating some temporary contractual changes to protect our rights during this crisis. I will report on that shortly.

Earlier today I sent the letter below to the chancellor, seeking clear information about any of our colleagues who may still be designated "essential employees." I'll let you know as soon as we have a response.

Meanwhile, please stay as safe and connected as you can.

Barbara Bowen
President, PSC/CUNY

PSC Endorses Sanders in New York Primary

The PSC Delegate Assembly, representing all CUNY campuses and units, met online last night (March 19). Our primary focus, of course, was on the union’s intense and ongoing campaign to protect the safety of our members, our students and our city during the pandemic.

The PSC had also made a commitment, however, to consider an endorsement in the New York State presidential primary. The world has changed since the union leadership initially made the proposal and since many of you sent us comments through the website. But the pandemic reveals anew how consequential political decisions are. The PSC is a large and diverse union, and our members hold many different political positions. The union leadership respects our members’ right to make their own choice of how to vote.

PSC delegates listened to your views, and in a well-attended meeting, voted overwhelmingly to approve the following motion on presidential endorsement:

In the New York State Democratic primary for president of the United States, currently scheduled to be held on April 28, the PSC endorses Senator Bernie Sanders for his progressive agenda on higher education, in particular, and on broader issues that represent the interests of our members, CUNY students, and working people, such as climate change, economic inequality, union protections, health care, and immigration. While we endorse Senator Sanders in the Democratic primary, we recognize the imperative of defeating President Trump, and therefore pledge to support the Democratic nominee in the general election, and to urge the nominee to embrace the progressive agenda that Bernie Sanders promotes.

What to do if you are asked to report to work on campus

If you have been told to report to work on campus or at another CUNY location tomorrow, the PSC offers the following guidance. We are here to support you and protect your legal rights.

First, find out if there have been any changes in the status of your college or workplace by checking online. Under intense and public pressure by PSC members, several colleges have taken action late this afternoon and closed some libraries and other services. Others have closed because of confirmed cases of the virus. Make sure your information is up to date. Just tonight, for example, the Queens College president announced that the campus would be closed for the next two days because of two suspected cases. If your college has not yet done the right thing to protect public health, send a message to your college president demanding that it does.

CUNY refuses PSC demand; PSC fights back

This afternoon the PSC leadership met with Chancellor Matos Rodríguez and his senior staff to present the union’s formal demands in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

While we reached agreement on some issues and made progress on others, CUNY management refused our first and most important demand: that all PSC-represented employees begin immediately to work remotely.

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