Rank and File Action

Strong unions do not accept weak contracts! (1/2)

But I am still excited by rank-and-file efforts to form a new caucus, organize each other, and dedicate themselves to ending business as usual. The labor movement in the US is accelerating and strengthening. Our union and our workers need a change.

I think the situation is bleak and that union leadership is effectively managing the decline of one of our country’s great public universities. They have that on their hands, and on their consciences. 9/

I remember I went to a union press conference once, after Queens College laid off ~30 full-time faculty. Our union selected roughly nine politicians to speak. I think one actual worker who had been fired spoke. No one got their job back. 8/

Public sector unions are a different beast, but this is all a result of union leadership’s lack of an organizing strategy. Our union prioritizes relationships with city and state politicians who are under their own constraints. They don’t know how to mobilize rank and file. 7/

During roughly two years of bargaining, the PSC only raised graduate worker demands at the table once. It didn’t advance most graduate demands. There’s unfortunately no other way to describe it than that our union threw graduate students under the bus. 6/

The contract would give graduate students 37k in 2028. Lol. 5/

The contract does not lock in any remote work rights, which have become a given in other union contracts. This means workers are held hostage to management’s whims about when they can work remotely. 4/

It represents a downgrade in provisions for adjunct job security. We are worse off than under our last contract. And it has CUNY adjuncts making 7k per course at the end of the five year contract. 7k was our union’s demand during its last round of bargaining, six years ago. 3/

The contract locks us in to an average of 2.8 percent annual raises for five years — after we suffered historic inflation during the early years of the pandemic, which we did not earn raises for. This is effectively a paycut. 2/

After almost two years of bargaining, CUNY’s faculty and staff union is nearing a deal on a contract. I spent two years as a rep for the union. I cannot vote yes on this contract — which furthers austerity at CUNY and signals to admin that our union is weak and incompetent. 1/

(1/2)

Strong unions do not accept weak contracts! (1/2)

@Cuny4P @cunyonstrike @QcUnite @PHEWnetwork @MOREcaucusUFT

⚠️⚠️ A TA from @PSC_CUNY is imminent and we are not happy with what we’re hearing! Petition for 8k/class and 3-yr contracts for adjuncts here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI… Read more of our analysis here: eomail6.com/web-version?p=…

“We require the following in a tentative agreement: 1. Minimum of $8k per 3-credit course at the beginning of the contract    2. 3-year multi-year appointments in the contract with improved eligibility and a minimum of 6 credits each semester.”

**PSC Members Only** the Platform Committee of the PSC Committee of Adjuncts and Part Timers has released a statement and petition concerning the state of bargaining over adjunct demands. Please read and consider signing if you agree forms.gle/vR8UzhCnDQoqxM…

@Cuny4P @QcUnite @GCAdjuncts @cunyfsjp @cunyonstrike

Curious about the status of PSC contract negotiations and their impact on adjuncts? Let’s talk! Please join the Guttman PSC Chapter this Wednesday 6 pm at Franklin Park in Brooklyn! 🎄💫

Join CUNY organizers for an info session on TRS investments & divestment campaign in preparation of supporting the TRS divestment resolution in the PSC! 📆Thurs, Dec 5 ⏱️6:30pm on zoom Register here: zoom.us/meeting/regist… More info & sign here: trsnycdivest.com

Civil disobedience today; strike escalation tomorrow. @cunyonstrike