PSC Delegate Assembly 11/21/24 - Notes + Proposed Resolution for 12/19/24
From the President’s report:
Current events/election
In the wake of Trump election, the PSC plans to serve as an incubator and facilitator of struggle to protect the most vulnerable communities--including many of our students and their communities--in combination with other organizations on and off campus.
The PSC plans to provide a forum to discuss and enact the protection of free speech on campuses through new Title VI policy guidelines. The union also aims to address the chilling of speech that is taking place as a result of new federal guidelines and current political context.
The PSC will fight to protect and advance rights of Organized labor via the NLRB, federal law, and even the NYS Taylor Law (which provides some protections to unions eve as it prevents striking).
President Davis noted that we need a “resurgent Left” that is beholden to principles, not a political party—but does not play purity politics, but rather builds sustainable coalitions. That believes in collective action. That knows that society, and our economy, do not have to be a zero-sum games. The PSC can lead in the effort to build this new formation.
Contract update:
Pickets have been successful--CUNY
is feeling the heat: they know we are not shrinking. CUNY is finally getting
very serious at the table—now they are much more prepared and engaged than they
have been in the past due the pressure we’ve put on them.
CUNY offers: 4 years, across the board raises and retroactive: 3% in 2023, 3% in 2024, 3.25% in 2025, and 3.5% in 2026, and some cash. But one-time, lump sum payments are insufficient—we need recurring funds for raises.
There is real resistance on CUNY’s part to some of our most important issues. Two examples: 1) Looks like CUNY will agree to extend remote work agreement, but it’s not what we set out for: we want a provision IN the contract, an entitlement, and they are refusing to put it in the contract. 2) Adjunct multi-year appointment (Provision E)—CUNY proposes a 2-year (not the current 3-year) contract after 12 consecutive semesters teaching two classes. Not good enough for us!
CUNY is nervous about the Governor’s budget in February—they want the PSC contract in there. Is it possible to get it funded if the contract is not in the Governor’s budget? Yes, but it’s more difficult politically. CUNY wants to nail down the contract before January. This gives us leverage!
We have urgency, too—38 bargaining sessions is enough. But we won’t leave the table until we have a strong contract.
PSC wants a 5-year contract, not 4. There will be funds in addition to across the board increases, but there’s struggle over that.
PSC latest proposal for adjuncts: $8K per 3-credit course. CUNY proposes $6,350 for a 3-credit course, which would simply mean the general wage increase and no other equity increase. This is unacceptable to the bargaining team. See formal union contract updates here:
https://psc-cuny.org/issues/contract-apeoplescuny/
--------------------------
Upcoming at the December 19, DA:
PSC and NYCERS Israeli Investments Divestment Resolution [click on link to see the text of the resolution]
Please note that this resolution has been proposed but has not yet passed and can be amended.
The proposed Israeli investments divestment resolution is another attempt from those who are anti-semitic to attack Israel. These proposals only criticize Israel. No other country, even those with very low levels of human rights and civil liberties are censured.
ReplyDelete