#GOPtaxscam Demonstration

The PSC turned out in force for a Wall Street demonstration against the devastating "tax reform" bill pushed through by the GOP this week.  President Barbara Bowen and Vice President Mike Fabricant joined Rutgers AAUP President David Hughes and twelve others committing civil disobedience and risking arrest.  BC faculty and staff in attendance included Pierani Pieronni (College Now), Chris Ebert (History), James Davis (English), and Tammy Lewis (Sociology).  Retired BC Psychology professor Nancy Romer was arrested with the others engaged in civil disobedience... #fierce!

The #GOPtaxscam passed, but the struggle continues and the resistance movement grows.

Contract Campaign Kicks Off

Brooklyn College faculty and staff turned out in big numbers to demonstrate at the CUNY Board of Trustees meeting December 4, 2017.

More photos, care of Ben Shepard, NYCCT Chapter Chair, available here:

https://benjaminheimshepard.blogspot.com/2017/12/cunyneedsaraise-and-not-in-seven-years.html

Chapter Meeting Agenda, Nov 29, 2017

1. Plan to attend the contract campaign kickoff rally Mon. Dec 4

4:30pm Gather at CUNY Graduate Center, 365 5th Ave at 34th St.

5:00pm March to Baruch Vertical Campus, 55 Lexington Ave at 25th St.

5:30-6:30pm Rally Outside CUNY Board of Trustees Mtg, 25th St Pedestrian Plaza, Baruch College 

•  RSVP: http://www.psc-cuny.org/dec4
• Take a sticker! Take a flier!
• On social media?  Add a twibbon.
• For updates on the contract rally and future actions, text "PSC” to 69238

  2. Questions about the announced bargaining agenda?

3. Mark your calendars: Higher Ed lobby day in Albany is Wed Feb 28

4. Dr. Penny Lewis, Associate Professor, CUNY Murphy Institute for Worker Education, and Senior College Officer on PSC Exec Council, presentation on Janus v. AFSCME. https://drive.google.com/open?id=1pyzQZ3RDCEHtK5wHTqjj8NDr-hossSdz

Chapter Meeting Ageda, Oct 31, 2017

Janus v AFSCME & Recommit Campaign

o   “Rightwing Alliance Plots Assault to ‘Defund and Defang’ America’s Unions,” Guardian 8/30/17

o   PSC Recommit campaign: blue cards or online at psc-cuny.org

o   Adjunct membership blitz Wed and Thu afternoon – sign up to participate:

https://doodle.com/poll/dybrqdicne7m26zx

Announced bargaining agenda

http://psc-cuny.org/contract/2017-psc-bargaining-agenda

o   Process

o   Demands

o   Contract campaign = budget, legislative + student, community, member mobilization

Con Con

o   Election day (Nov 7) vote No on Prop 1: Constitutional Convention

o   Phone bank – outreach to CUNY colleagues from home!

http://www.psc-cuny.org/issues/vote-no-nys-constitutional-convention

Happy Halloween! Fight for Contingent Academics!

Petitions: MoE bill and Adjunct 7K contract demand

Click the links below, print, and gather signatures from faculty, students, and professionals staff.  Please return completed petitions to BC Chapter Chair James Davis, English Dept, B2308.

Petition to support Maintenance of Effort legislation, ensuring annual increases in operating costs at CUNY and SUNY are covered by NY State funding.

Petition to support PSC contract demand of $7K/course minimum for Adjunct faculty teaching a 3-credit course.

Campus Equity Week 2017

The BC Chapter rang in Campus Equity Week by signing up hundreds of supporters for the PSC's contract demand of $7K minimum per course for adjuncts.

CUNY Rising Alliance Grows

The CUNY Rising Alliance is 33 groups strong as of Oct 2017, and growing...

Chapter Meeting Agenda Sept 14, 2017

Contract campaign: survey results, contract process, and campaign

Recommitment campaign: Janus v AFSCME 

·         New blue card or PSC website: http://psc-cuny.org/UnionYes

·         Sign up for training at BC in 1-1 organizing: Mon Sept 18 or Tue Sept 26 

·         Analysis:

Penny Lewis (PSC), “Trump’s Assault on Labor,” The Clarion

Risa Lieberwitz (AAUP), “Legal Watch: Friederichs Redux,” Academe

Looking ahead…

·         Maintenance of Effort campaign: Coordinated with SUNY and a coalition of public higher ed supporters: http://psc-cuny.org/clarion/junejuly-2017/pushing-fair-moe-bill-albany

·         Campus Equity Week, late October: BC adjunct organizing “blitz” on Halloween day

·         NY State Constitutional Convention? Vote “No” on November 7

NYSUT podcast: https://www.nysut.org/resources/special-resources-sites/podcast

·         Next chapter meetings:

Tue Oct 31, Ingersoll Extension (IA) 329

Wed Nov 29, Library 411

Defend DACA

In response to the Trump administration's commitment to rescind DACA, The American Federation of Teachers (AFT), our national affiliate, is providing a mechanism to collectively urge our elected officials to pass a "clean" Dream Act, preserving the rights of DACA protected young people to work and remain in this country.  As of mid-September, over 12,000 letters have been sent in this way.  Send your letters here: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/urge-congress-to-pass-the-dream-act

Fall 2017 BC PSC Meeting Dates

Exec Committee Meeting (faculty-staff lounge) 12:30-2:00 pm

Tue Sept 5

Tue Oct 10

Tue Nov 7

Tue Dec 5

Chapter Meeting 12:30-2:00 pm

Thu Sept 14, Ingersoll Extension (IA) 329

Tue Oct 31, Ingersoll Extension (IA) 329

Wed Nov 29, Library 411

Delegate Assembly* (at PSC) 6:30 pm

Thu Sept 14

Thu Oct 19

Thu Nov 9

Thu Dec 7

*All PSC members are welcome, but only elected Delegates or Alternates may vote.

Adjunct Organizing Meeting

Meeting to develop strategies to build membership among adjunct faculty heading into next contract negotiation and to prepare for Trump administration policies.

Wednesday, March 29
5:00 - 6:30 pm
Boylan Hall 2307
Pizza and refreshments provided
Contact: Yasmin Gruss (yasmingruss@gmail.com)

Higher Ed Lobby Day 2017, Albany

James Davis (BC Chapter Chair) and (VP for Senior Colleges) joined PSC colleagues to lobby State legislators for investment in CUNY, March 2, 2017.

NYPIRG organized students from across NY City and State, including this group visiting a Buffalo-area Senator.

Demonstration for Adjunct Salary Increase December 2016

NY Citizen Preparedness Training sponsored by BC HEOs