Tuesday May 12 is “Teach in Your T-Shirt Day.”
Help send a strong message to our students and the CUNY administration about what is at stake in this contract. Be a part of “Teach in Your T-Shirt Day” tomorrow, May 12. Hundreds of your colleagues will wear a union t-shirt while teaching or working with students tomorrow that says: “Five Years without a Union Contract Hurts CUNY Students. Ask Me Why.” The shirts are to help spark conversations with students about how our teaching and working conditions are our students’ learning conditions. Here are some tips on what to say when you talk to students about the contract. If you’re on Twitter, you can amplify the reach of the t-shirt action by tweeting a photo of yourself and a student with the hash tag #CUNYNeedsARaise to @PSC_CUNY. (If you have a great conversation with a student, email Clarion Associate Editor Shomial Ahmad about it at [email protected]. She’s writing a piece for the next issue.)
PSC chapter chairs are working to distribute the last batch of t-shirts delivered to campuses on Friday, May 8. If you reserved a shirt between April 30 and May 7 and don’t have it yet, contact your chapter chair. Here is a list of PSC chapter chairs and their contact information.
Rally to Support Stronger Rent Laws—Foley Square, Thurs., May 14
Over one million rent-stabilized homes will be at risk when the State rent laws sunset on June 15. Labor unions, community organizations, and NYC-based Democrats in the Legislature are fighting to strengthen and extend the laws before they expire. With new leadership in the Assembly and a progressive mayor, there is forceful leadership in Albany and City Hall for stronger rent laws. With a powerful grassroots wind at their backs, tenants’ allies in Albany could end high-rent vacancy decontrol and the vacancy allowance, which permit landlords to increase rents by double-digit percentages.
Stemming the loss of affordable apartments through deregulation is a real way to mitigate New York’s rising cost of living and protect the value of CUNY salaries. Be one of tens of thousands of New Yorkers who are demanding affordable housing in our city. Click here to endorse the PSC’s statement of support and to RSVP for the Rally to Save NYC/Protect #1millionhomes, Thurs., May 14 at 5 PM at Foley Square. (Learn more.)
Help Win State Funding For a Raise and City Funding for CUNY
Sign up for NYC-Based Lobby Visits
The most important thing PSC members can do right now to help win a contract with fair pay is to visit the district office of their state legislators. The State Legislature still has six weeks in this legislative session to fund our contract. And with the Mayor’s Executive Budget released last week, the union is ramping up efforts to meet with City Council members too, urging them to increase funding for CUNY’s operating budget and to add their political support to our contract fight. Email Amanda Magalhaes ([email protected]) of the PSC staff to help make a real difference in the political campaign for contract funding. Tell Amanda what times you’re available on Fridays through the rest of May and June. When meetings in your district are scheduled, Amanda will let you know. You can wear your t-shirt to the meeting!
PSC Elections 2015
On Tuesday, May 12, the PSC Elections Committee will meet to certify the results of the union’s spring 2015 elections for the PSC’s principal officer positions of President, First Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer; for Vice Presidents for Senior Colleges, Community Colleges, Part-Time Personnel and Cross-Campus Units; and for the other 19 positions on the PSC Executive Council. Candidates for the uncontested election were profiled in the March edition of Clarion. PSC members also elected delegates to the AFT, NYSUT and AAUP this spring. The term of office for the elected union leaders begins on Wednesday, May 27.
