Report from the Sept 24, 2024 Chapter Meeting

Dear colleagues,

We held our first chapter meeting of the academic year on September 24 as a HyFlex meeting (both on

Zoom and in-person)

 

We were thrilled to see so many folks at our first chapter meeting on the 24th! Thank you to the more 

than 70 of you who joined in person and on Zoom! There were several other events and meetings at the 

same time, so it was especially awesome to feel the commitment and energy that members brought to 

the meeting!

 

This is what we covered at the  meeting:

• Welcome, introductions, and Union 101

• CUNY Bylaws changes and REPAIR Act

• Contract bargaining updates and discussion

• Plan for escalation to win a good contract

• Invitation to activism: Pick one thing you can do!

Please see the attached pdf of our slides from the meeting (or click here for a link to the slideshow) for 

details. Here is a brief summary:

Mobina Hashmi, chapter co-chair (TREM), and Naomi Schiller, chapter EC member (Anthropology), 

introduced the Executive Committee (EC) of the Brooklyn College chapter, grievance counselors, and 

Brooklyn College representatives to the HEO and CLT chapters.  Department representatives in 

attendance said a quick hello. 

They gave a brief overview of how our union works, what we fight for as a whole and at BC specifically, 

and what we have won through collective struggle. Naomi noted the recent grievance victory that meant 

4,300 teaching adjuncts and others saw as much as $800 extra in their last paycheck as compensation 

for training for online teaching done in 2020 for which they had either been underpaid or not paid at all.

 

Sandra Kingan, BC representative to the University Faculty Senate and professor of Mathematics, 

shared a report from UFS about proposed changes to CUNY Bylaws regarding the role of department 

chairs, school deans, the president, and the Provost. Essentially, the unified action of UFS, campus 

faculty governance bodies, and the PSCC seems to have worked to prevent administrative overreach in 

areas like scheduling of courses and professional evaluation. 

Erin Lawson, Campaign Director for the REPAIR Act gave a brief introduction to this proposed 

legislation and the cross-campus student organizing efforts that would create a new funding source for 

CUNY by making Columbia and NYU pay their fair share of property taxes. You can learn more and set 

up a classroom visit here.

Ana Djordevic, chapter EC member (HNSC), gave an update on bargaining (see slides). Ana 

emphasized the importance of wide member participation in the bargaining process, noting that our 

union’s adoption of open bargaining (any PSC member can attend a bargaining session as an observer) 

was an important win for union democracy and encouraged members to practice democratic union 

participation. Member presence at bargaining also sends a clear message to CUNY administration 

about our power. Given CUNY’s refusal to engage with the PSC’s economic counteroffer, it is even 

more important to show solidarity and strength.

 

Joseph Entin, chapter co-chair (English), gave a brief history of our last SAV (strike authorization vote) 

accompanied by photographs of past actions and the organizing we did at Brooklyn College. The 2016 

SAV followed escalating actions from rallies to civil disobedience and was successful in a high response 

rate and an overwhelming yes vote because of the very well disciplined and intense organizing work 

leading up to it. 

Our PSC staff organizer, Thandi Farley, provided additional context and information about the place of 

civil disobedience actions in recent contract campaigns by other unions.

We ended the meeting with an open conversation about next steps. Members on Zoom and in-person 

shared personal perspectives on escalation, on what a “good contract” would look like, and on what it 

would take for us to be ready and able to organize a successful SAV if needed. The overall tenor of the 

comments and reactions was in support of adjunct pay equity - $10k a course - as a contract win and a 

massive structural shift in CUNY administration’s thinking. The increasing cost of quality healthcare was 

a concern. Several people also noted the importance of participation and that this active engagement 

with union activities is possible at any time and commitment level, e.g. simply attending one rally. 

As we closed the meeting, we encouraged everyone to note down our https://linktr.ee/bc_psc  as a way 

of staying informed about all upcoming actions, educational events, and social gatherings.

The next chapter meeting will be on October 29 from 12:30 - 2:00 pm in-person and on Zoom

 

In solidarity,

Your chapter EC