On May 7,
after weeks of study and discussion, the PSC Finance Committee
finalized a proposal to restructure full-time dues to create a
more equitable system.
Treasurer John Hyland said, “I am confident our proposal
is fairer for most members and fiscally responsible for the
union.”
Following
a change in the part-time dues structure from a flat rate to 1% in
February, the Delegate Assembly asked the Finance Committee to
study the feasibility of moving from a flat rate to a percentage
rate for full-timers as well.
Those supporting the move argued that a percentage rate is
intrinsically fairer than a flat rate, and noted that many unions
have adopted percentage-based dues for greater equity among
members. The Delegate Assembly authorized the Finance Committee to
develop a proposal for a full-time dues rate between 1% and 1.1%,
the figures that emerged from a preliminary analysis.
Representatives
of both Cross Campus Chapters urged the union to make the change
in time to take effect during the next academic year, because many
of their members will see a reduction of up to a third in their
dues. “I am wholeheartedly in favor of it,” commented Bob
Wurman, a chief CLT at Queens College and a member of the Finance
Committee. “This is something that CLTs have been wishing we had
for 15 or 20 years—and most of the people covered by the PSC
would pay less than before.”
The
proposal is a 1.05% dues rate for full-time members, based on
gross income. The
full-time agency fee rate will also change, but the retiree dues
rate will NOT change. “This
proposal is as close to revenue-neutral as we could get while
preserving the integrity of the union’s budget,” said Finance
Committee member Bob Cermele, “since we know NYSUT and AFT
payments are going up, and other costs will rise.”
First Vice
President Steve London analyzed two different full-time employee
data-sets to develop revenue estimates and worked on expenditure
projections with Executive Director Deborah Bell and Treasurer
Hyland. “If the
delegates want to make a change for full-timers, we have a window
of opportunity this summer,” said London. “This is because
part-time dues are being changed, and city and state payroll
officers say that changing the dues structure for check-off is
such a big programming task that they will not assign staff to do
it more than once in the foreseeable future.”
Two public
meetings of the Finance Committee are scheduled so members can
learn more, ask questions, and express their points of view.
Both will be held at the CUNY Graduate Center, 34th Street
and 5th Avenue.
The first
is on Wednesday, May 16, 5:30-7:30 pm. The second is on Thursday,
May 24, 5-7 pm in Rooms 9204-06.
A discussion
board has been set up on the PSC website; look for the link
at: www.psc-cuny.org. “We hope members
will use the website and the meetings to let us know what they
think about the proposal,” said Hyland. “A special meeting of
the Delegate Assembly is scheduled for June 14th to vote on it.”
go
to:
DISCUSSION
BOARD ON DUES RESTRUCTURING