PSC Delegate Assembly DA 9/23/21 - proposed resolutions

Please note these are proposed but not yet passed and can be amended.

Resolution to honor the life and legacy of Graciano Matos (October 18, 1948 – June 13, 2021)
--Submitted by the PSC Anti-Bullying Committee

Reauthorization for the Task Force on the NY Health Act
--Submitted by the Social Safety Net Committee

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Resolution to honor the life and legacy of Graciano Matos (October 18, 1948 – June 13, 2021) 

(Submitted by the PSC Anti-Bullying Committee)

 

Whereas, Graciano was a beloved member of his immediate and extended family, including his wife Carmen Vásquez (who was also a PSC member in the HEO series at one time) and two sons, and a mentor who taught and lived his principled beliefs throughout his life, including the culture of his beloved Puerto Rico; and

 

Whereas, Graciano Matos earned his Master’s degree from Hunter College’s Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences program and since 2001 served as Laboratory Hygiene Officer at City College; and

 

Whereas, Graciano Matos was an active member of the Professional Staff Congress and CUNY communities who worked tirelessly to improve working conditions for all CUNY employees, pursuing an equitable and just workplace; and 

 

Whereas, at City College and in the PSC, Graciano served on many union and CUNY committees and was also a PSC delegate in the Higher Education Officer cross-campus chapter since 2010; and

 

Whereas, Graciano Matos was directly and tirelessly involved for decades with the liberation movement of Puerto Rican political prisoners and the independence movement, fighting for liberation and struggling against oppression; and

 

Whereas, Graciano served passionately and proudly on anti-bullying initiatives that he both led and participated in; and was a resolute and fierce anti-bullying advocate, who never hesitated to advocate against bullying at the PSC Delegate Assembly; and

 

Whereas, Graciano was committed to fighting for changes in anti-bullying policy, grievance procedures, and contract language to ensure that PSC members would feel supported and fairly represented with empathy and certitude; therefore be it 

 

Resolved, that the PSC will henceforth celebrate Freedom from Workplace Bullies Week; and be it further

 

Resolved, that the PSC will celebrate Freedom from Workplace Bullies Week 2021 in honor of Graciano Matos.

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 Reauthorization for the Task Force on the NY Health Act

 

Whereas the PSC DA authorized the Social Safety Net Committee to establish, as a DA Special Committee, a Task Force on the NY Health Act (DA Minutes, May 21, 2020, IIIE), and

 

Whereas the crisis in healthcare insurance coverage is ongoing and efforts to address it through privatization and givebacks continue unabated, and

 

Whereas the recent agreement between NYC and the Municipal Labor Committee to move all municipal retirees from Medicare/Senior Care to Medicare Advantage is only the most recent example of same, and

 

Whereas the PSC is actively engaged in educating its members about these ominous developments and building resistance, and

 

Whereas the PSC Constitution requires DA Special Committees to be reauthorized annually, therefore

 

Be it resolved that the DA approves such reauthorization for the 2021-22 year.

 

Submitted by the PSC Social Safety Net Committee