A Con Con Would Put Our Pensions and Union Rights At Risk
Vote No on Proposition 1 Next Tuesday, November 7
Next week’s ballot will include a question on whether the state should hold a Constitutional Convention. The PSC, the Sierra Club, the New York Civil Liberties Union and hundreds of other progressive groups urge you to vote NO. (The New York Times has also come out against the Con Con.) If a convention were to occur, anything in the state constitution could be rewritten. Every provision that matters to PSC members would be at risk, including the prohibition against reducing public pension benefits and the right to be a member of a union and bargain collectively. Read President Bowen’s message on the Constitutional Convention here, if you missed it.
Remember that you have to turn your ballot over to the flip-side to find the Con Con question—it’s Proposition 1. If you can help us to get the message out to other PSC members, please contact us here.
The Most Important Thing You Can Do to Protect Our Rights and Benefits
Sign the PSC’s new membership card, if you haven’t already, so our union can continue standing up for us and taking on fights like the campaign against the “Con Con.” It’s the single most important thing you can do right now to make sure the PSC has the power it needs to fight this and other threats to our rights and benefits.
Vote For PSC-Endorsed Candidates This Election Day, Tuesday, November 7
Remember to vote next Tuesday for Mayor Bill de Blasio, Comptroller Scott Stringer, Public Advocate Letitia James and for City Council candidates endorsed the PSC. We need progressive allies in city government who understand the value of CUNY as we embark on the next contract campaign. Click here for all the candidates endorsed by our union.
Don’t Let Congressional Republicans Cut the SALT Deduction
Today congressional Republicans unveiled their plan to give massive tax breaks to the wealthy and corporations at the expense of the middle class. The plan would provide huge tax benefits to the top 1 percent of earners. To pay for the tax giveaway bill, President Trump and most congressional Republicans want to eliminate much of the state and local tax deduction (SALT), which many New Yorkers rely on. The plan would hurt schools and property values while raising taxes for one in four middle-class families. Tell your representatives in Washington that tax reform should not raise taxes on middle-class families or cut funding for Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or other important services New York communities depend on. Send a letter via the AFT.
Phased Retirement Application Deadline Nov. 15
The phased retirement benefit negotiated by the PSC and CUNY management allows full-time instructional staff members to ease into retirement. Full-time faculty who are 65 and older, have at least 15 years of pensionable service and are members of the Optional Retirement Program (largely TIAA) are eligible to apply to “phase” for up to three years, work 50% of their workload and receive 50% of their salary and full health insurance. HEOs and CLTs are eligible to phase for up to one year with a 20% workload reduction (one day per week) for 80% pay, if they are at least 65 and members of the ORP. Faculty and staff must irrevocably commit to retiring at the end of the phasing period. To begin phased retirement in Fall 2018, applicants must develop a plan with their chair/supervisor and submit an application to their college human resources office by November 15, 2017. The application form is available in the Retirement Benefits section of the CUNY website and on college websites. Read more.
