News & Events

  • Facebook logo
  • Twitter logo
  • Print HTML logo
PSC prepares for potential legal action against layoffs

Earlier today, the PSC legal counsel sent CUNY's legal counsel a formal request for information. The union is requesting the information in order to prepare for potential litigation, if necessary, concerning CUNY's use of federal stimulus funding during the coronavirus crisis.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (H.R. 748), or the "CARES Act," which was signed into law on March 27, provides for more than $250 million in federal funding to be allocated to CUNY colleges. The amount includes funds based on the number of students at each college and the portion of low-income students, plus additional targeted funding for minority-serving institutions. The funds are allocated to each college individually, based on the college's student population.

Under the provisions of the CARES Act, at least $118 million of the funds allocated to CUNY must be used to provide emergency financial aid to students. CUNY management reports that the University has distributed, or is in the process of distributing, those funds to students in need. But where is the rest of the funding? Even if CUNY is waiting for the final transfer of the funding from the federal government, there is no justification for colleges to implement cuts and layoffs when committed federal funding could help to avert them.

Press Conference with Legislators

Register here for this Zoom press con: https://aft.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GlQ8uE6ET-m6dIvohpk4ow

Special Executive Council Meeting
NYC Labor Leaders Call on Governor, Mayor, and Police Commissioner to Put a Stop to Police Brutality

The systemic assault on the Black body has gone on for far too long—400 years and counting. We are outraged and heartbroken over the police murder of George Floyd, just as we were at the killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, Walter Scott, Philando Castile, Sandra Bland and so many more. Further, we are disheartened by the profound lack of leadership demonstrated by our elected leaders, especially their inability to propose and implement substantive reforms that promote real change. This lack of action combined with a lack of empathy, patience, and respect for protesters gathering to say Black Lives Matter is more than a series of missteps - it is a continued danger to New Yorkers for whom law enforcement’s responsibility to “protect and serve” is taken as a suggestion instead of a mandate.

As labor unions, we stand in solidarity with the hundreds of thousands of people across the country who have risen up to protest against state violence towards people of color, systemic racism, and police brutality. We cannot and will not stand down as we witness daily the violent response of the NYPD without reprimand nor consequence.

Independent Audited PSC Financial Statements

The PSC's annual financial statements have been reviewed by an independent auditor in accordance with AFT Bylaws. The union's financial statements were found to present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Professional Staff Congress of the City University of New York as of August 31, 2019 and 2018, and the changes in its net assets and cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The audit is available here.

Bullying Prevention Day
PSC Statement on the Murder of George Floyd

The members of the Professional Staff Congress join working people across the country and the world in condemning the state-sanctioned police violence that continues to terrorize—and is designed to terrorize—communities of color, especially African American communities. We grieve with the families and loved ones of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Sandra Bland, Eric Garner, Freddie Gray, Ramarley Graham, Walter Scott, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, Sean Bell, Kendra James, Anthony Baez, Amadou Diallo and many, many other black and brown people who have died as the result of a policy of racist police violence.

Agreement on Adjunct Notification Date

Dear PSC Members,

The PSC has reached an agreement with CUNY management to extend the deadline for notification of adjunct appointments for the fall semester to June 30, 2020. The agreement applies to non-teaching adjuncts and adjunct CLTs as well as to adjunct faculty.

The agreement also creates a process to enable the PSC and the University to meet before the June 30 deadline to address any instances of adjuncts who have been on health insurance through their CUNY employment in the current academic year and stand to lose eligibility for health insurance in the fall. The union will do everything we can to ensure that no adjunct loses health insurance eligibility during a pandemic. That has been—and remains—one of the PSC’s primary goals.

If you are an adjunct and have not already done so, please use this form to notify us of your current reappointment status.

The PSC encourages all adjuncts to apply for unemployment insurance regardless of your reappointment status. Click here for an FAQ. Adjuncts who are on three-year appointments should contact the Workers Defense League at (212) 627-1931 about their eligibility.

Ad Campaign--Hurting CUNY Means Hurting Our Recovery

Professional Staff Congress Launches TV and Digital Ad Campaign Calling on CUNY Board and Chancellor to Stop Thousands of Faculty Layoffs, Protect Quality Education

CUNY Must Use Millions of Dollars in Federal Aid to Protect Jobs

Open Letter to Chairperson Thompson and Chancellor Matos Rodríguez

On Monday, May 18, PSC President Barbara Bowen sent an open letter to CUNY Board of Trustees Chairperson William Thompson and Chancellor Félix Matos Rodríguez calling on them to rescind all non-reappointments of faculty and staff made for budgetary reasons this spring. The letter urged them to call an immediate halt to all existing college or University plans for mass non-reappointments of personnel. It was shared with legislative and community leaders because keeping CUNY whole and keeping vulnerable employees on payroll during a pandemic are issues of vital public interest.

Pages