Dental and hearing benefits provided to CUNY employees by the PSC-CUNY Welfare Fund have been significantly improved. Beginning on July 1, 2018, the Fund’s reimbursement schedule for many common but expensive dental procedures—when provided by participating, in-network Guardian dentists—have been enhanced. Beginning on July 1, 2018, the Fund has also doubled the per-ear, in-network subsidy for hearing aids from $750 to $1,500, for a total subsidy of $3,000 once every 36 months. Visit the PSC-CUNY Welfare Fund website to read more about the benefit enhancements.
News & Events
PSC Research Foundation activists at City Tech, LaGuardia and the Graduate Center organized a petition campaign in less than a week and ensured that they and their colleagues would receive their pay increases on time. Members ratified a new three-year contract on May 29 with salary increases effective July, 1, 2018. As of June 27 the RF Board of Directors had not approved the contract.
President Barbara Bowen, Professional Staff Congress (PSC/CUNY), AFT #2334
The Janus decision is not about the First Amendment. It is about consolidating wealth, power and even health in the hands of the few while imposing permanent economic austerity on everyone else. The majority decision helps to advance an agenda that has been planned and lavishly funded by billionaires and far-right organizations. Its goal is to undo every gain made by workers, people of color, immigrants, women, the middle class and the poor during the last half-century.
The Executive Council of the PSC has passed a resolution in support of the Fordham Faculty United contract campaign. Fordham Faculty United (affiliated with SEIU Local 200) represents approximately 800 non tenure track faculty who voted overwhelmingly to form a union in November 2017. The union is now bargaining for its first contract. The resolution resolves that the PSC declares its solidarity with the FFU’s effort to win a strong contract and encourages its members to support the FFU’s contract campaign. Read the full resolution.
The PSC and our AFT affiliates plan to fill social media with messages from proud union members if the Supreme Court rules, as expected, against workers in Janus v. AFSCME. Please join us. The Court’s rulings are announced on Monday mornings, and the Janus ruling could come any Monday before the end of June. The PSC will inform members via email and social media when it happens. When you receive the PSC’s message about the ruling, share a photo of yourself on social media, tag the union, and use the hashtags #UnionProud #UnionStrong.
If you email a photo to PSC Communications Coordinator Fran Clark a photo (fclark@pscmail.org), we’ll add to your photo a frame with the hashtags that says “I’m Sticking to Our Union” and share it via the union’s Twitter and Facebook accounts on the day the Court’s Janus ruling is announced. Be sure to tell us where you work.
CUNY Needs a Strong Maintenance of Effort
The NY State Senate has passed Maintenance of Effort (MOE) legislation that would begin to reverse the State’s record of underfunding the CUNY senior colleges.The Assembly is still considering it. MOE bills have been passed both houses twice with overwhelming bi-partisan support, but were vetoed both times by the governor. But the political dynamics in New York are changing and there is a chance that the MOE bill could be passed again and signed into law.
Click here to send a letter to your representatives in Albany urging them to pass the MOE again. This version of the bill requires the State to fund CUNY’s inflationary operating costs, such as collective bargaining, energy and rent. It also provides reimbursement for a portion of the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) Credit, which currently leaves public colleges on the hook for financial aid that should come from the State.
