PSC’s Founders: Pillars of Labor

Zeller and Kugler's names (bottom) were added to the Pillar of Labor

Two of PSC’s deceased founding leaders, President Belle Zeller and Deputy-President Israel Kugler, were honored on Friday, June 1, as Pillars of Labor at a ceremony at the Wagner Labor Archives of New York University. Zeller and Kugler’s names were inscribed on a pillar in the reading room of the Wagner Labor Archives to celebrate their contributions to academic unionism and mark the 40th anniversary of the founding of the PSC through the merger of the Legislative Conference of the City Colleges and the United Federation of College Teachers.

Several speakers celebrated the PSC's forty years and its founding leaders, including current president Barbara Bowen, past president Irwin Polishook, the AFT's Phil Kugler (Israel Kugler's son), Distinguished Professor Blanche Wiesen Cook (who spoke about Belle Zeller) and CCNY Professor Emeritus Irwin Yellowitz (who looked back on forty years of PSC history).

PSC’s 40th anniversary will also be celebrated at a June 18 luncheon organized by the PSC Retirees Chapter.

Irwin Polishook, PSC president from 1976 to 2000, speaking at the event.

Phil Kugler reminisces about his father.

Zeller and Kugler in 1972.