G POLITICS Members grill mayoral Clarıon hopefuls PSC forum NEWSPAPER OF THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF CONGRESS / CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK APRIL 2005 draws all challengers. PAGE 5

RESEARCH FOUNDATION RF union election at Grad Center in May Close to 200 employees of the CUNY Research Foundation who work at the Graduate Center will have the chance to vote for union representation in early May. PAGE 5

PROTEST CCNY administration draws fire for arrests The response to a demonstration about on-campus military recruit- ment is part of a wider hostility to dissent at City College, say students, faculty and staff. The arrest and suspension of four protesters drew sharp criticism. PAGE 4 t e h c i o h c S y r a G PPSCSC DEFENSE FUND HEALTH Drug ads: are they good for your health? MEMBERSMEMBERS SIGNSIGN UP Did you know that the United CUNY management still refuses to make a contract offer that preserves Welfare Fund benefits, gives real States will soon be the only country raises, and makes CUNY a better place to work. In response, PSC members are signing up to contribute to a that allows direct-to-consumer Union Defense Fund, to cover special expenses of a militant contract campaign. Not since the 1970s, when the advertising for prescription drugs? PSC first established a Defense Fund, has the need for such a campaign been so urgent. PAGES 6-7, 10-12 Find out why. PAGE 9

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS G AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS G N.Y.C. CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL G N.Y.S. AFL-CIO G NEW YORK STATE UNITED TEACHERS 2 NEWS & LETTERS Clarion | April 2005

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR | WRITE TO: CLARION/PSC, 25 W. 43RD STREET, FIFTH FLOOR, NEW YORK, NY 10036. E-MAIL: [email protected]. FAX: 212-302-7815.

“teaching of courses” and the amount of back pay owed are the is- sues that will be decided by a new Management responds to Clarion arbitrator. The vice chancellor also has his 1 – Comment from CSI team have been trained specifically been some progress on this persis- “To realize the college’s mission and facts wrong on the history of settle- to handle the safe removal of mold. tent problem.” The article quoted educational objectives in a safe and ment discussions. There was no G I wish to comment regarding the If a project is too big to be handled Shah Jayman, of the CSI PSC chap- healthy environment requires that “tentative agreement” in 2001. At story entitled “CSI chapter presses by the in-house team, outside ven- ter’s executive committee, on the this problem be fixed now, not al- that time, the full-time faculty health & safety,” which appeared in dors who hold licenses to remove fact that in some areas “the mold is lowed to drag on,” says Vasilios Pe- fought to add 12 adjuncts to a list of a recent issue of Clarion. mold are called in. beginning to disappear…The ad- tratos, PSC chapter chair at CSI. “It 25 full-time faculty who would bene- Since the CSI Willowbrook cam- Please note that the College wel- ministration is responding.” Jay- is urgent that DASNY carry out the fit from the 150-hour prospective pus was opened ten years ago, the comes any and all inquiries regard- man commended VP Aponte’s deci- necessary repairs, and it is the joint settlement offered by management. College has consistently dealt with ing issues that affect the health and sion to put gutters on one building responsibility of the CSI and CUNY In spring 2003, the grievants and La- the issue of mold. Every building on safety of everyone at CSI. We re- as an experiment. administrations to make sure that Guardia agreed on 21 full-timers as campus was inspected for mold and spond to every inquiry with serious- “The key problem is that as long this happens.” the list of grievants in settlement reports detailing corrective mea- ness and attention to detail. as water leaks are prevalent on the discussions. When the grievants sures are on file with CUNY’s Office Angelo J. Aponte CSI campus, there will be a problem sought to add two substitutes to the of Design, Construction and Man- VP for Finance & Administration with mold,” comments David 2 – 80th Street objection list of 21, LaGuardia refused and agement, who are handling the re- College of Staten Island Kotelchuck, co-chair of the PSC G It is understandable that the PSC then took two full-time substitutes, mediation project through the Dor- Health and Safety Committee. would wish to spin its story on the previously agreed upon, off the list. mitory Authority of the State of Clarion editor Peter Hogness re- “While it is essential ‘to remove any LaGuardia case (Clarion, March While it is true that the faculty New York. In the meantime, the Col- sponds: CSI administration has in- contaminated material,’ this is insuf- 2005) to make it seem like a victory. have thus far made an economic lege handles day-to-day mold issues deed worked to remove mold in ficient. Until the leaks are fixed, the The truth, however, is that the PSC sacrifice in not taking the original with our own mold abatement team campus buildings. The article in our mold problem will constantly recur.” lost its grievance and could have settlement offer, the value of the of College personnel under the di- February issue described how the As VP Aponte notes, mold has achieved far more if it had settled principle of solidarity and of not rection of our Environmental Health PSC chapter at CSI has pressed for been a problem at CSI since its cur- the case more than three years ago. throwing the weak overboard and Safety Officer. Members of the action, and noted that “there has rent campus opened 12 years ago. In the 1998 summer session, La- seems to escape Vice Chancellor Guardia Community College ended Schaffer. its practice of paying instructional staff in Cooperative Education at the teaching hourly rate even Don’t ‘let market decide’ Anti-war educators draw big crowd though only a minimal amount of G As a longtime public school- their work involved classroom teacher I worry a lot about the cor- teaching. The arbitrator denied the porate domination of public schools, PSC’s grievance, finding that the but reading in The New York Times College properly paid the non- that IBM’s Lou Gerstner, former teaching rate for work other than governors, and other Standardistos classroom teaching. The court up- are inspiring changes in the CUNY held that decision but reversed the teacher education program sure arbitrator’s denial of back pay for grabbed my attention. I hope the those paid the non-teaching rate for CUNY faculty is more than “sur- classroom teaching since the sum- prised” by the new academy (March mer of 1998. 2005 Clarion, “Education faculty In September 2001 the PSC and surprised by new academy”). Out- the College tentatively agreed that rage and resistance seem more ap- the PSC would withdraw the griev- propriate reactions. ance and the College would guaran- When a university chancellor de- tee existing full-time instructional clares that he wants a “competitive staff at least 150 hours at the teach- environment for teacher education” ing rate for work in future summer and “let the market decide,” one has sessions. The PSC later wanted ad- to wonder about where his priorities juncts and substitutes included, a are. Letting the market decide demand the College rejected. After should be an anathema in a place more than two years of inaction, the concerned with fostering learning, a PSC walked away from this tenta- place established to educate teach- tive settlement and lost the arbitra- ers capable of nurturing students. tion. The result? During summer Letting the market decide sounds sessions, full-time Cooperative Edu- more like selling your baby to the cation faculty will be paid at the highest bidder than nurturing it. teaching rate only for actual class- In Why Is Corporate America s e room teaching. Bashing Our Public Schools? my n o ñ i

u Frederick P. Schaffer co-author and I document the corpo- Q a

s CUNY General Counsel and rate agenda for public schools. In- i L Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs stead of scrambling for places in the More than 500 educators and 250 Most participants were from the National Priorities Project, the new hierarchy, it would be refresh- students attended the Educators to NYC metro area, but others came state’s proportional share of the PSC First Vice President Steve Lon- ing to see professors offering resis- Stop the War conference on March from Massachusetts, Philadelphia, war’s total cost so far is $17.7 billion; don responds: It is premature for tance. Future public school teachers 5. The PSC was a co-sponsor of the Washington, DC, and as far away as NYC’s share is $6.6 billion. In the Vice Chancellor Schaffer to wag his badly need this model of resistance, conference, a project of US Labor Iowa. They included members of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity lawsuit, finger at LaGuardia Coop Education not more marketplace compliance. Against the War. AFT, NEA and AAUP, as well as court-appointed experts called for faculty and tell them they should Susan Ohanian The turnout far exceeded orga- both high school and college stu- an additional $14.8 billion in K-12 ed- have settled. Judge Friedman af- Charlotte, Vermont nizers’ expectations. “The numbers, dents. ucation spending – but the State firmed that they should be paid at diversity, energy, and focus of the The conference focused on teach- Legislature says it does not know the teaching rate when teaching and Editor’s note: Ohanian was given people who came convince us that ing about the war in Iraq, organiz- where to find the money. vacated the arbitrator’s award. The the 2003 George Orwell Award from we have struck a chord that will res- ing against the war in local and na- Pedagogical resources for talking judge also remanded the matter the National Council of Teachers of onate widely in the months to tional education unions, and the ef- about and teaching about the war back to arbitration “...on the amount English, for distinguished contribu- come,” said co-conveners Nancy fects of the war on social spending are available at www.educators of unpaid compensation to which tion to honesty and clarity in public Romer of the PSC and Michael and contract negotiations. tostopthewar.org/resources.htm. grievants are entitled for the teach- language. Her website, www.su- Zweig of the UUP chapter at SUNY- New York is paying a high cost The website also provides informa- ing of courses at the teaching sanohanian.org, features news and Stony Brook. for the Iraq war. According to the tion on future plans. DR/PH rate....” What activities constitute comment about trends in education. Clarion | April 2005 NEWS 3 Panel falls from Marshak building

By DANIA RAJENDRA plans call for simultaneous con- CCNY, 80th St. promise information and action struction of a new CUNY-wide sci- The night of Thursday, March 17, a ence research facility, located at large concrete slab fell from the 11th that the incident would not be repeat- CCNY, and a new science building floor of the Marshak building, which ed. Bob Wurman of the PSC’s Health for City College, she said. houses science research at City Col- and Safety Committee said that the At that meeting, Biology Depart- lege. No one was injured, but faculty, panel’s weight was variously esti- ment Chair Jane Gallagher chal- students and staff were locked out for mated at between 1000 and 3000 lenged Small and Maria Tamargo, much of the day on Friday and class- pounds. The morning after it fell, CCNY’s acting dean of science, to es did not resume for near- union officers repeatedly work on limiting damage to experi- ly a week. At press time, Giant slab gets spoke with administra- ments while Marshak undergoes some labs and the outdoor administration tors at 80th Street to en- stopgap repairs. The noise, jarring plaza around the building’s sure that immediate safe- and debris of construction can disrupt tower remained closed. attention ty measures were taken months or years of work, scientists Science faculty expressed frustra- and that no employees lost pay while pointed out. During the meeting, loud tion at the CCNY administration’s their workplace was closed. noise from a project nearby some- lack of communication, both during Problems with Marshak were le- times drowned out the conversation. this crisis and in past discussions of gion even before the panel fell. Wa- STOP GAP MEASURES the building’s many health and safe- ter leaks have damaged the build- s e n o

ty hazards. But after a flurry of ing’s steel reinforcing rods, which ñ To extend the building’s life, i u Q meetings with top administrators in weaken and expand as they rust CUNY plans to encase Marshak in a a s i late March and April, several ex- and force the concrete off in flakes, L glass curtain wall to protect it from pressed cautious optimism. a process known as “spalling.” At right, rusting reinforcing rods force concrete to flake off. The braces, seen across the elements and limit further water Large steel brackets have had to be the window, help hold the building up. damage, while at the same time BRIEF VIEW installed on the building’s exterior overhauling the ventilation systems. When the panel fell, it left only a to maintain its structural integrity, a grievance in February of 2004, and “I think we all have worries about Based on reports from engineer- very thin inner wall between the lab said Wurman. though some progress was made, both staying in the building indefi- ing and environmental consultants space of Michael Green, professor of “We are now seeing the results of Leberstein said, “up to now we were nitely and what will happen when hired by the union, the PSC has ques- chemistry, and the whistling wind. City College’s inadequate mainte- unable to achieve that constructive we move,” said Physics Professor tioned whether the glass wall would When construction workers ripped nance and its long history of neglect relationship.” Marilyn Gunner, who was part of a worsen already severe air quality out this inner wall to replace it with of health and safety issues in the group of science faculty that met problems from soot, mold and bro- more secure plywood, “I had this Marshak building,” said PSC Execu- WORRIES REMAIN with CCNY President Gregory ken fume hoods, among other con- beautiful view of the Bronx,” said tive Director Deborah Bell. “This “The administration now appears Williams on March 31. “We worked cerns. The PSC intends to press ad- Green. “Fortunately, then it was gone latest incident is an accident that more willing to include faculty and on setting up a working committee ministrators to address these issues immediately….Except for the elec- did not have to happen.” staff in communication and decision that would allow us to get more in- at an upcoming grievance hearing. tricity along that wall, we are back in “We’ve been trying for a year and making,” Leberstein said, “though formation for the faculty and have Many who work in Marshak said business.” The area is used for com- a half to get the administration to the reality of the promise is still to more input.” that the fall of the concrete panel puters, not chemical experiments. work with us to address the prob- be tested.” He added that the union Earlier the same day, University has meant more administrative Green said that workers used steel lems in the Marshak building,” said is working closely with a committee Dean for Research Gillian Small met attention, which they welcome. The cables to shore up the remaining pan- the chair of CCNY’s PSC chapter, of science division faculty to hold with about 50 CCNY science faculty series of meetings that followed left els in his lab and elsewhere, to ensure Steve Leberstein. The chapter filed the administration accountable. and pleaded for patience. Current faculty hoping for new progress.

operating budget,” she said. “We would deny thousands of New want to make sure that continues.” Yorkers the chance to learn to There is about $100 million in the speak English with greater facili- City’s capital budget for CUNY, but ty, earn their GEDs, enroll in col- CUNY’s budget battles it says that $201 million is needed to lege and provide more support cover the City’s share of these costs. for their children’s education,” By CINDRA FEUER “We need to get the City to match lamented Steve Hinds, a GED Still more state support needed the State’s capital spending,” said math teacher at LaGuardia Adult At the end of March, New York law- until students received their de- McCall, coordinator of the union’s McCall. “They haven’t matched any- Learning Center. makers rejected Governor Pataki’s grees, compelling students to take Legislative Committee. “But the thing for ten years. This year it’s A rally opposing federal cuts to proposal for tuition hikes and cuts out more loans. Though Pataki budget didn’t restore enough to really glaring because we have so adult literacy programs will be held to student aid programs. The March dubbed this a “graduation incen- make up for reductions last year.” many needs.” in Union Square on Friday, April 22 agreement was hailed by the media tive,” the PSC, NYPIRG and student Legislators in Albany authorized at 10 am (see Calendar, page 4). as the first on-time budget in more groups argued that it would be an $663 million for CUNY and SUNY’s BUSH-WHACKED? Bush proposes a $500 increase in than two decades. obstacle to finishing. capital spending plans. CUNY students will discover this the maximum size of Pell Grants, But the Legislature’s budget fails Also restored was $7.2 million to spring whether President Bush’s over five years. But he links this so- to meet CUNY’s mandatory cost in- the SEEK program, $363,000 to Col- CITY BUDGET gaping cuts to higher learning get a called increase to the total elimina- creases, leaving the college system lege Discovery and funding for oth- Mayor Bloomberg’s budget pro- green light from Congress. For the tion of $66.1 million in Perkins loans in the red while its student body ex- er opportunity programs. State posal for FY 2006 would provide $151 first time in almost 20 – which are particularly pands. At Clarion press time, Pata- base aid for community colleges million for CUNY, a decrease in City years, the president’s pro- Legislature important for students at ki agreed to the Legislature’s budget was boosted by $115 per full-time support of over $30 million. posed education budget al- nixes Pataki’s CUNY’s community col- for CUNY, including no tuition equivalent (FTE) student, or about Bloomberg wants to eliminate locates less money than in leges – and the gutting of increases. $7.5 million. two key student aid programs, the the preceding year. A total tuition hike, programs for low-income But $22 million in operating aid Peter Vallone Scholarships ($7.0 of $4.3 billion in cuts from 48 TAP plan students such as Talent NO HIKE “temporarily” frozen by Pataki last million) and the Safety Net Program education programs is Search and Upward The budget approved by the Sen- year was not restored, in either ($4.5 million). Other funding the scheduled in the White House plan, Bound. The net result would be $10 ate and Assembly struck down Pataki’s FY2006 budget proposal or mayor wants to axe include $470,000 and many key college programs are billion less in federal spending over Pataki’s proposed $500 tuition hike the budget just passed by the Senate for CUNY’s Dominican Studies In- slated to take a hit. ten years. at public universities, restoring and Assembly. It becomes a cut to stitute, $469,000 to its Center for Bush wants a 67% reduction to “It’s interesting that all three Re- $37.3 million to CUNY’s budget to CUNY’s baseline budget. Overall, Puerto Rican Studies, and $335,000 adult literacy efforts under the publicans – the mayor, governor make up the difference. the Legislature’s budget leaves to the Immigration Center at Workforce Investment Act, a cut and president – are cutting aid to The Legislature’s budget also did CUNY $26.3 million short of its costs Medgar Evers College. from $570 million to $200 million in students who badly need it,” said not include Pataki’s scheme to re- for FY2006. McCall urged PSC members to one year. CUNY’s GED and ESL McCall. “they are undermining the structure the Tuition Assistance “We’re glad that restorations to contact their City Council represen- programs could lose as much as American economy by making it Program (TAP). He wanted to with- CUNY’s budget avoided a tuition in- tatives. “The City Council has been 50% of their federal funding. harder for us to help people become hold half the amount of TAP grants crease,” said PSC Secretary Cecelia very good in restoring cuts to the “Bush’s proposed federal cuts college graduates.” 4 NEWS Clarion | April 2005 Update: Several arrested at CCNY protest CCNY lifts By ELLEN BALLEISEN Bronx Community College Aggressive security measures questioned suspensions Three City College students were arrested on March 9 during a As Clarion went to press, CCNY protest against the presence of mil- lifted the suspensions for Carol itary recruiters on campus. The Lang and the three students. All charges ranged from obstructing four returned to campus on April government administration to as- 11, with Lang going back on payroll sault on a CUNY security officer, and the students returning to their but those arrested insist it was secu- classes. Their lawyer was in nego- rity personnel who assaulted them. tiations with both CCNY and the Carol Lang, a CCNY secretary Manhattan District Attorney, seek- who had yelled “let her go” at the of- ing to have both administrative ficers while one of the students was and criminal charges dropped. being arrested, was herself detained The students’ disciplinary hear- two days later. Accused of striking ing, originally scheduled for April an officer “with an unknown ob- 8, was cancelled. Carol Lang’s Step ject,” Lang was arrested at work One disciplinary hearing, original- and then held for 36 hours before ly scheduled for April 14, was also her release. cancelled. She will have a Step Two y a

All four of those arrested were g disciplinary hearing at the CUNY e n r suspended and banned from the o Central Office in mid-May. K

e campus before any hearing was k – EB a held, a move that was criticized by J CCNY’s Faculty Senate. CCNY ad- Nick Bergreen (center) spoke at a press conference after his release from jail. City College students Bergreen and Justino ministration asserted that the im- Rodriguez (at right) were among those arrested in a protest against military recruitment. CCNY professor Bill Crain is at left. mediate suspensions were neces- CALENDAR sary because those arrested “pose a voice his or her opinion,” Williams military recruiters had a right to be ary 23, when the PSC and CCNY stu- continuing danger” – including stu- concluded, “we will not tolerate any there and that it was inappropriate dents sponsored a joint demonstra- dent Justino Rodriguez, who was acts of violence.” for the students to protest inside, tion for a good labor contract and FRIDAY, APRIL 22: 9:30 am – 3:30 pm/ not charged with assault. Lang, a But a student unconnected with rather than outside. But she said that against increases in tuition. A large Recapturing the “public” in Public member of DC 37, was suspended the protest told Clarion that the the demonstrators had been “peace- contingent of New York City police Higher Education. With Jennifer from work without pay. only violence he observed came ful, not abrasive, with no vile lan- and City College security officers or- Washburn (see page 10). Registra- from security guards. “One security guage,” and that it was the aggres- dered the roughly 50 demonstrators tion info at 212-794-5538. JOB FAIR guard started to scream at the pro- sive attitude of the security guards to move inside metal police pens, an The arrests took place during a testers, ‘Move, move, move. You that changed the atmosphere. action that Leberstein called “insult- FRIDAY, APRIL 22: 10 am/ Rally to pro- campus job fair in Shepard Hall that can’t be here,’” he recalled. “Other Nazon had planned to testify at a ing and provocative.” The size of the tect NYC adult literacy programs. included military recruiters. A group security guards [began] screaming college disciplinary hearing for the police presence and the officers’ ac- At Union Square Park in Manhat- of about 20 student protesters en- at the protesters as well.” The students on April 8, and the student tions were both “totally out of pro- tan. More info at www.glcnyc.org. tered the job fair and began to chant guards pushed protesters over to witness who spoke to Clarion was portion to the situation,” he told anti-war slogans in front of the Army one side of the hallway, he said, and considering doing so as well. But Clarion, and the College of Liberal WEDNESDAY, MAY 4: 6:00 pm/ Health National Guard table. About two several students were knocked that hearing was cancelled at the Arts & Sciences Faculty Council has & Safety Watchdogs meeting. At minutes later, private guards from down and lay on the ground. “What last minute, almost a month after asked Williams for an explanation. the PSC office, 25 W. 43rd Street. Burns Security and campus security shocked me was that the security the suspensions were first imposed. Contact Bob Wurman, bobwurman officers both told them to guards were so aggres- CCNY’s Faculty Senate objected REPRESSION @yahoo.com. leave. When they refused, Challenging sive,” he explained. “They to Williams’ decision to suspend stu- On March 31 the PSC Delegate the officers surrounded stu- on-campus were dragging people dents and an employee without a Assembly voted to condemn “the re- FRIDAY, MAY 6: 9:15 am– 5:00 pm/ dents and ejected them from across the floor. I saw a hearing. In a March 17 resolution, pression of political dissent at CC- TIAA-CREF representative Vito the job fair. military student who was lying on the Senate called for “an open and NY.” In early April, several City Col- Ruvolo at the PSC office. Call Linda According to Lang and recruiters the floor and the three se- thorough investigation of the inci- lege faculty staged a three-day Slifkin, 212-354-1252. the students, they continued curity guards jumped on dent,” and said that until such an in- hunger strike, protesting the arrests chanting in a hallway outside but his back. They twisted his hands and vestigation is carried out, those sus- and suspensions as a threat to the FRIDAY, MAY 6: 12 – 5:00 pm/ PSC Ju- never struck anyone. Lang, who is 54 handcuffed him.” pended should “be reinstated to First Amendment. nior Faculty Development Day: years old, told Clarion, “I’m 4'11" and The guards’ violence did not stop their proper place in the academic The four arrested have all been How to Survive and Thrive at I’m not crazy. I wouldn’t hit an offi- there, he added: “I also saw a girl community.” active in previous “counter-recruit- CUNY. Advice on getting tenure cer.” (The arrest report incorrectly who was trying to take pictures ment” activities on campus, and and more. At CCNY Center for gives Lang’s height as 5' 5".) with her still camera. At least two UNFAIR say that their previous success Worker Education, 99 Hudson St. security guards grabbed her, twist- Hadas Thier, one of the arrested is what led CCNY administration Contact Jeremy Borenstein, 212-354- AGGRESSIVE ed her hands, and took the camera students, said Williams had shown to adopt a harder line. Justino Ro- 1252 or [email protected]. A City College spokesperson de- away. Another security guard was he was not interested in a fair inves- driguez told Clarion that on two oc- clined to answer questions from holding a handcuffed protester’s tigation. “[He] sent an e-mail to the casions in the fall, military re- FRIDAY, MAY 6: 4:00 pm/ DA Part-time Clarion, providing only a statement head against the wall while…speak- entire faculty and student body re- cruiters at CCNY decided to pack Personnel Committee, at the PSC of- from President Gregory Williams ing on his walkie-talkie. The protest- peating the allegations against us as up and leave when faced with fice, 25 W. 43rd St. Contact Marcia that was e-mailed to CCNY students er had blood on his face.” if they were facts,” she said, and did peaceful, chanting protesters. Newfield, 212-354-1252, mnewfield@ and employees the day after the The student gave Clarion a writ- so “without so much as a phone call “As tuition goes up, people feel pscmail.org. protest. “In the corridor outside the ten statement but requested to see if we were all right, or to find desperate and they think their only Hall, [the students] were told once anonymity, saying, “I’m afraid. I out our side of the story.” Thier, option is to join the military,” Ro- TUESDAY, MAY 17: 4:00 pm/ Women’s again that they…must take their don’t know how City College securi- originally from Israel, said it had felt driguez said. City College is target- Committee meeting, at the PSC of- protest outside, where they would ty works.” He said he did not know strange to be excluded from her ed by recruiters because of its many fice. Contact Norah Chase, 212-354- be free to continue to express their the protesters, adding, “I’m not an campus, unable to attend classes or poor and working-class students, he 1252, or NChase91@ aol.com. opinions,” Williams wrote. “The activist, I find activists a little crazy. campus protests against the arrests. argued, and he feels obliged to chal- confrontation escalated and several But after I heard the charges, I “I’ve tried to stay in touch with my lenge their sales pitch. SATURDAY, MAY 28: Deadline for con- of the demonstrators grabbed and thought, truth is being turned to its professors,” she told Clarion, “but “Dying in Iraq is not a job oppor- test, co-sponsored by the Sankofa hit the officer. At this point, the opposite.” it’s been hard.” tunity,” argues Rodriguez. For him, Review and Medgar Evers College, three students involved in the at- Marie Nazon, a faculty counselor Steve Leberstein, chair of the this statement is also personal: his for a free tour in Egypt (including tack on the officer were arrested.” in the SEEK program, attended the PSC’s City College Chapter, said the father has done one tour of duty in hotel, cruise and meals) from July While “every member of the City job fair and saw the protest inside. college administration’s hostility to Iraq with the US Army, and he may 23 to August 2. Call Clinton Craw- College community has the right to She told Clarion she believed that dissent had been apparent on Febru- be sent there again. ford, 718-756-8904. Clarion | April 2005 NEWS 5 RF workers finally vote on union

By DANIA RAJENDRA ees’ right to be union members. Grad Center employees waited two years The RF has tried to argue that Research Foundation workers at since it is a private foundation, its the CUNY Graduate Center got earned money of the grant procur- come from CUNY, often doing the on whether they want to be part of employees who are grad students some welcome news at the end of ers on expensive lawyers to deny us same or similar work. Yet they lack the same bargaining unit with other may not unionize. In response, the March: they will finally get to vote the right to make a basic decision,” the union protections that CUNY employees. At City Tech, 94% of pro- PSC has noted that that CUNY and in a union election. said Robert Sauté, an RF worker and employees have had for years. fessionals voted in favor of all union the RF have long insisted that they The vote will be held on May 3 graduate student in sociology. “Whatever type of work you do, it members being in the same unit. are separate employers and that the and 4. It’s been a long time coming – RF workers say they want a should be covered by the same Because about half of RF does not grant degrees. The re- RF workers at the Grad Center have union in order to win tuition remis- rules as everybody else’s,” said Election RF employees at the Grad gional director of the NLRB sided been organizing since May 2003, but sion, job security, and fairer policies Lorraine Towns, a Science Pro- will be Center are graduate stu- with the union, and ordered the May the election has been stalled by Re- on vacation and sick time. Even if an gram Coordinator for nearly dents at CUNY, RF man- 3 and 4 election. search Foundation (RF) objections. RF employee works on the same four years. “As a worker, my held on agement has tried to ar- After the regional office of the Na- project for years, her or his pay- rights have to be protected.” May 3 & 4 gue that they cannot join a APPEALS CONTINUE tional Labor Relations Board (NL- check may be financed by a succes- In three previous union elec- union. In July, a national If the RF decides to file another RB) issued a ruling ordering a union sion of different grants. As a result, tions, RF workers elsewhere at NLRB panel ruled that graduate stu- appeal, the ballots cast by grad stu- election last June, RF management many find that they lose accrued CUNY voted for PSC representation dents at private universities do not dents will be impounded after the filed an appeal. The regional NLRB sick or vacation time. They also say by 85%, 81% and 88%. “The support have a right to unionize, since their votes are cast, and will be counted director then reopened the hearings they want programs to run smooth- for the union has been overwhelm- work as teaching assistants is al- only after the appeal is resolved. and asked both sides for more infor- ly, with transparency and consisten- ing,” said PSC Associate Executive legedly not a job but simply part of “The RF can stall all it wants,” mation. On March 31 she ruled that cy from the RF. Director Mary Ann Carlese. As in their education. The ruling does not said Irene Meisel, a graduate stu- the election should go forward. the recent vote at City Tech, profes- apply to public universities such as dent at the Center for Media and Some RF employees are angry SIDE-BY-SIDE sional employees will have a differ- CUNY, where the Public Employ- Learning. “That’s all it is – stalling. about the repeated delays. “It’s crim- RF employees may work side-by- ent, two-part ballot. They will vote ment Relations Board has long rec- That’s why it’s important we all inal that the RF is spending the hard- side with people whose paychecks on whether they want a union, and ognized graduate student employ- vote.”

in 10 years (from $36,000), Ferrer said that “if we want to build a great university,” this is bad policy. “I just PSC forum draws mayoral hopefuls don’t think it’s right,” he said. Asked about his recent comments that the shooting of Amadou Diallo By MANNY NESS by police was not a crime, Ferrer Brooklyn College Focus on CUNY, union issues said “it was a bad shooting” that showed “a failure in policing policy” Every Democratic and Republican GIFFORD MILLER that went all the way up to then- challenger to Mayor Michael Mayor Giuliani. He said he had Bloomberg took part in a mayoral City Council Speaker Gifford fought for police reform, even “sub- forum sponsored by the PSC on Miller emphasized how he has mitting myself to voluntary arrest.” March 23 at the CUNY Graduate moved efforts to fund CUNY Center. The event drew a crowd of through the City Council. “I think TOM OGNIBENE 150 PSC members, students, and CUNY is a huge portion of the solu- Former City Councilman Tom members of other unions. tion to our problems – whether it’s Ognibene, challenging Bloomberg Fernando Ferrer There was lively discussion of jobs, whether it’s economic justice or for the Republican nomination, said citywide issues, from affordable being more competitive,” Miller said. he expects to run on the Conserva- housing and public transportation On labor negotiations, Miller did tive Party line in November even if to Bloomberg’s stadium scheme. not disavow the concept of pattern Anthony Weiner he loses the GOP primary. But most of the audience’s questions bargaining but suggested his inter- Ognibene praised “our great may- focused on issues specific to higher pretation would be more flexible. or, Rudy Giuliani” for “raising the t

education and to municipal labor. Miller did not support repeal of e standards” at CUNY. With students h c i

the Taylor Law, but called it “one- o meeting those standards, Ognibene h

ANTHONY WEINER c S

sided and unfair as it is currently said, he believes in principle that y r a

Congressman Anthony Weiner written.” The process today is “so G CUNY tuition should be free – “that

: s o cited his mother’s 35 years as a unbalanced that the mayor can just t was the original deal” – but he said o h teacher, and expressed gen- choose not to negotiate,” P he does not believe the City has the eral support for higher pay All major he said. Gifford Miller resources to reach that goal today. for educators. “We have to challengers As mayor, Miller was “The only thing I can promise you,” negotiate for raises,” Wein- asked, would he bring having their personal information he said, “is that if I am mayor, edu- er said. “They deserve to be appear at part-time CUNY employ- given to recruiters. cation will be a priority.” paid more.” union event. ees into the City health in- C. Virginia Fields When a member of the surance plan like other FERNANDO FERRER STEVEN SHAW Transit Workers Union asked if part-time City workers? While non- Like Miller, Fields said she had Ferrer, who was endorsed by the Another Republican candidate, workers should have the right to committal, Miller commented that fought to restore funds for CUNY, PSC in the last mayoral election, Steven Shaw, has never held elective strike, Weiner answered, “People “it’s no benefit to the City of New York both as a Council member and as said, “I consider the future of the office. Shaw emphasized his opposi- should have the opportunity to when workers who are working for Manhattan Borough President. She City and CUNY as inseparable.” He tion to what he called NYC’s “oppres- strike, [but] obviously not in viola- the City don’t have health benefits.... said that “keeping CUNY as an insti- criticized the fact that CUNY com- sive tax structure.” tion of the Taylor Law” – which They’ll eventually end up in our pub- tution with doors open to the many, munity college tuition is “among the Mayor Bloomberg was invited and bans strikes by all of New York’s lic hospitals.” not the few” is a critical task. Speak- highest in the land,” and said New his staff said that he would like to at- public employees. ing against proposals to increase York cannot afford such “barriers to tend. In the end he was not able to On the issue of academic free- C. VIRGINIA FIELDS CUNY tuition, Fields said, “It’s open opportunity.” come, but promised to meet with the dom, Weiner was asked if he sup- Manhattan Borough President C. amazing to hear the discussion On contract negotiations, Ferrer union’s leadership. ported the NYC Education Depart- Virginia Fields extolled CUNY for [among politicians] as if having to drew applause when he said, “To Cecelia McCall, coordinator of the ment’s decision to ban Professor providing a high-quality education pay another $250 doesn’t matter.” put a proposal on the table that is union’s Legislative Committee, said Rashid Khalidi of Columbia from fu- despite lack of funding. “When you Fields spoke against “the use of lower than the rate of inflation is that the event reflected the PSC’s ture participation in its teacher edu- look at the fact that average SAT our schools as a recruitment ground simply saying, ‘Work for less.’” growing political strength. “As cation programs. “I wouldn’t have scores are going up...that’s the good for the military,” and said that as Told that starting pay for CUNY Councilman Bill Perkins said recent- hired him in the first place,” re- news,” Fields said, also praising mayor she would make it easier for Language Immersion Program ly, ‘The PSC has built a constituen- sponded Weiner. CUNY’s two recent Rhodes scholars. high school students to opt out of (CLIP) instructors has not gone up cy for CUNY,’” said McCall 6 CONTRACT Clarion | April 2005 How CUNY is underfunding the CUNY moves but still falls short By DANIA RAJENDRA

Over and over, CUNY management Raises below inflation, no WF solution negotiators had insisted that they Welfare Fund would not offer more than 1.5% un- solve the Welfare Fund crisis, and The PSC counterproposal, made less the union first reduced its own does not address the need for im- on March 22, also covers four years: By PETER HOGNESS ing with retirees (who typically demands. But on March 17, they provements in equity and working it includes a 2% increase for the Wel- have higher prescription drug yielded and came to the table with a conditions. fare Fund, across-the-board salary In a March 21 open letter, Chancel- costs than other members) and ad- higher offer, even without PSC con- “While the exchange of compre- increases worth 10.6% plus an $800 lor Goldstein declared that “the juncts (whose basic health insur- cessions. hensive packages represents a dif- increase in base salary for all, and University has not underfunded the ance depends on a separate contri- Union leaders credit member ferent level of engagement,” said a $500 longevity increase. Of the Welfare Fund.” But the numbers bution stream from CUNY). For action with forcing CUNY’s shift in PSC President Barbara Bowen, across-the-board increases, 1% would tell a different story. each group, CUNY contributes sub- position. “Because of the pressure “there is no justification for starting go toward union economic demands As these graphs show, the Wel- stantially less than their benefits applied by people in this room, and from the position that improvements such as sabbaticals at 75% of full pay fare Fund is on the brink of insol- cost. Union negotiators have reject- many others, they did come with an are out of the question” – especially and paid parental leave. vency. The reason is simple: ed this idea, and are demanding improved offer,” PSC President Bar- given this year’s $2.5 billion surplus “We’ve taken the best features of CUNY’s contributions are not that CUNY contribute enough to bara Bowen told the March 31 Dele- in the New York City budget. the UUP-SUNY agreement and pro- enough to cover the costs of current the Fund so that benefits can be not gate Assembly. posed a combination of percentage benefits. The gap between the two is only maintained, but improved. But CUNY’s offer is still a recipe and cash increases,” Bowen ex- large. Before the end of this sum- Despite the WF Trustees’ deci- for austerity, said the union’s bar- SALARIES plained. “Percentages alone would mer, that gap will have to be closed sion two years ago to reduce fund- gaining team. At 6.25% compounded CUNY’s offer on salaries is 6.25% widen the gap between highest- and in one of two ways: by increasing ing of the dental benefit and to shift over four years, CUNY’s latest pack- compounded over four years, plus a lowest-paid members, whereas cash CUNY’s contributions, or by shift- a larger share of drug costs to mem- age would still mean raises that fall 1% self-funded “productivity in- increases to base salary contribute ing even more costs onto members, bers, the Fund’s reserves are almost below the increased cost of living – in crease” that would be dependent on to equity.” effectively cutting benefits. gone. If benefit cuts are to be avoid- real terms, a pay cut. It would not members doing additional work. The PSC has made an innovative In contract talks, CUNY manage- ed, CUNY must pay more. Trying to proposal on part-time salaries, which ment negotiators have suggested deny these facts won’t make them would significantly boost the adjunct that the Fund cut benefits – start- go away. The PSC will run 30-second television faculty salary scale. Currently, ads featuring union members beginning adjunct faculty get a paid office hour April 15. “An investment in us is an in- if they teach six hours at a single CUNY pays less than benefits cost vestment in CUNY,” says the narrator, as campus. The PSC plan would attach photos of faculty and staff in the class- unpaid office time to all adjunct room, with names and years of service, teaching – but would increase adjunct fill the screen. The 30-second ads will wages to a level that would more run mostly on cable stations, including than compensate for the change. $35 CNN, MSNBC, NY1, WCBS and WABC. Bargaining team members say the See it at www.psc-cuny.org. proposal acknowledges work that

$30 CUNY’s contributions don’t come close The Fund’s reserves are almost gone

s $25 r a l l o d

f $3,500 o $20 Rx CPI $20 s n o

i $18

l $3,000 l i

M $15 $16 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005* $2,500 Fiscal years *Estimate Medical CPI $14 $2,000 Income $12 s Actual expenses r

a $10

$1,500 l Projected expenses l (if benefits had not been restructured) o $8 d $1,000 f

F $6 o

PSC-CUNY Welfare Fund Income & Expenses W

Y s $500 N $4 U n C - o C i S l P

$2 In almost every one of the last ten lion in projected expenses in FY 2004 l i

$0 m o

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005* r f years, CUNY has contributed less to alone. While about half of these sav- M s $0 h

Fiscal years *Estimate p 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005* the Welfare Fund than the cost of ings came from making the Fund a r g

l Fiscal years *Estimate benefits. This ongoing shortfall has more efficient, half stemmed from l a

r o f created a financial crisis for the the simple fact that members now CUNY’s Per Capita Contribution Rates vs. Medical Inflation a t a

Welfare Fund, and has forced it to pay more of the costs. D PSC-CUNY Welfare Fund Depletion of Reserves use reserves to cover deficits. But members’ sacrifices have not The fact that CUNY’s contribu- solved the problem. In 2004/2005, The last contract increased CUNY’s kept up with steep increases in tions consistently fall short of ex- the high rate of increase in pre- annual contributions to the Welfare health care costs. Prescription drug Inadequate contributions by CUNY have serves are almost gone, despite benefit penses forced the Welfare Fund to scription drug prices (currently es- Fund by $200 per member. A July costs, by far the largest factor in forced the Fund to use up its reserves. changes that were made to contain costs. restructure benefits in 2003. Restruc- timated at 18% per year) pushed the 2004 agreement between municipal Welfare Fund expenses, have gone The constant gap between benefit costs Unless CUNY contributes more – and turing helped contain costs, as Fund’s expenses back up again. unions and New York City added up fastest – and CUNY’s contribu- and CUNY’s contribution rates has re- soon – cuts in benefit coverage will be un- shown in the chart above – those CUNY’s contribution rates, howev- $65 per member, but this has not tion rate has lagged far behind. quired the Welfare Fund to draw on those avoidable. changes saved an estimated $8.2 mil- er, increased very little. reserve funds year after year. Now the re- [Above, the growing gap between what CUNY pays the Welfare Fund and the [Figures for 2005 are estimates. Income figures reflect some short-term fluc- rising costs of health care and prescription drugs. CPI = Consumer Price In- [Above, summary of year-end reserve balances show how the Welfare Fund has had to tuations, such as a one-time additional contribution by CUNY in 2003 to dex. Figures for CUNY’s contributions are a weighted average of contribution spend down its reserves to dangerously low levels. Experts recommend that benefit funds make up for past underpayments.] rates for retired and active members; each CPI applied to avg. for 1996.] maintain a balance equal to 12 months of expenses. The WF last met this level in 1998.] Clarion | April 2005 CONTRACT 7 ut still falls short

ring amount – into the Fund,” said CUNY has so far offered for the WF is o WF solution Bowen. Since the existing contract not enough to pay for current benefits. expired in November 2002, the PSC adjunct faculty already do. “The peo- proposal calls for CUNY to pay the ple have been professional, but this first two years of that rate increase EQUITY would make the structure more pro- to the WF immediately, in order to Some of the best news for the PSC fessional,” said Marcia Newfield, who bolster the Fund’s reserves. in CUNY’s new proposal is that serves on the bargaining team. The Welfare Fund rate increase management dropped its aggres- “This is an enhancement for stu- proposed by the PSC for the begin- sive push to slash job security for dents, because they need that time ning of the contract would be equal Higher Education Officer titles in its with their professors,” Bowen added. to 1.25% of payroll, and the union new proposal. “No concessions on calls for CUNY to make a second Article 13.3b was a union priority,” rate increase, equal to 0.75% of pay- Bowen said. But defining the priori- WELFARE FUND roll, in the contract’s final year. ty as holding the line against con- At the start of the new contract, Under CUNY’s proposal, its regu- cessions meant that the union had CUNY’s offer would include an $800 lar contributions would not rise un- to scale back its proposal on promo- one-time cash contribution to the PSC- til late in the third year of the agree- tions and drop, for this round, its CUNY Welfare Fund (WF) for each ment. Then they would go up by proposal on paid overtime for full-time employee, pro-rated for part- $100 per capita, an increase that is HEOs. The PSC continues, however, timers. As a one-time payment, how- repeated a year later. The increase to demand presidential reasons ever, this would not help to close the in the WF’s income would be sub- when those in HEO titles are not gap between the WF’s expenses and stantially smaller than in the PSC reappointed. its ongoing income – and this lump- proposal. The two sides reached tentative sum payment would soon be eaten up In a March 21 letter to employ- agreements on additional reas- by the ongoing deficit. ees, Chancellor Goldstein said he signed time for research for new li- Management says it would consider wanted to “clear up some miscon- brary and counseling faculty, and a larger one-time payment, but only if ceptions” about CUNY and the came closer on proposals to reduce the additional amount is subtracted Welfare Fund. “The University the teaching load at New York City from the retroactive pay from the sec- does not have a demand on the bar- Tech, currently the highest of any ond year. gaining table to cut benefits for re- CUNY senior college. This progress, s s

The PSC proposal puts more money tirees” or other employees, the however, remains tentative until a e n g into the Welfare Fund at the start of a chancellor declared. final agreement is reached. o H

r e new agreement, and does so in a more While CUNY has not presented a At press time, the PSC bargaining t e effective way. “Instead of a one-time formal demand for benefit cuts, its team was waiting for a response P cash payment to the WF, our propos- current proposal would make them from CUNY to the union’s counter- More than 100 Brooklyn College members and students rallied for a fair con- al would put a rate increase – a recur- inevitable: the amount of money proposal. tract and against tuition hikes on March 26. ves are almost gone Members nix ‘austerity framework’ By DANIA RAJENDRA ly far above average. Chapters con- $20 Acting on state of emergency tinued to participate in the “My With new and creative tactics, PSC Five” one-to-one organizing pro- $18 members continued their response to break through management’s at Bronx Community College gram and made weekly calls to man- $16 to the state of emergency in con- austerity framework.” marked the day with a “town meet- agement decision-makers on “Con- tract negotiations. Campus rallies, A series of local actions kicked off ing” on contract negotiations. Twen- tract Wednesdays.” BoT Chair $14 street theater, a “town meeting” on March 26, when more than 100 ty PSC members and a student took Schmidt, Chancellor Matthew Gold- $12 and picketing by a “flying squad” members and students rallied to- a turn at the microphone to testify stein and Mayor Michael Bloomberg s r were among the tools that members gether at Brooklyn College for a fair on the urgent need for CUNY to in- were all targeted in March and April.

a $10 l used to press for a fair contract. contract and against increases in tu- vest in the people who do the work l NEW TACTICS o $8 Union members were vocal in re- ition. “We [students] need to think of education. “The attitude of admin- d jecting CUNY management’s latest about this as, ‘This is my contract!’” istrators at 80th Street is that facul- In a new tactic, a “flying squad” of f $6 o

contract offer, which would leave Ali Chaudary, a senior ma- ty, staff and students are PSC picketers welcomed Chancellor s $4 Welfare Fund benefits in danger joring in psychology, said Membership an irritant, a bother – in- Goldstein at City Tech on April 5, n

o and lose ground in salaries. The lo- at the demonstration. “If stead of their reason for when he arrived to testify before the i and leadership l $2 l cal protests in March and early our professors are worry- being,” said union dele- State Regents on CUNY’s new Mas- i April helped organize for a union- ing about paying the rent, ratchet up the gate Ben Carney. ter Plan. In his testimony, Goldstein M $0 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005* wide demonstration on April 19, at or health insurance, how pressure The PSC chapter at La- praised CUNY’s faculty and staff – Fiscal years *Estimate the office of Board of Trustees Chair can they give a good lec- Guardia presented a doc- but PSC activists gave all who at- Benno Schmidt. ture, or concentrate on helping me?” umentary about open admissions, at- tended a leaflet that said, “Chancel- und Depletion of Reserves The Brooklyn rally also featured tracting an audience of students, fac- lor Matthew Goldstein, talk is cheap FAT CATS a bit of street theater. CUNY “fat ulty and staff who discussed the con- – we need a contract!” The union’s Delegate Assembly, cats” – complete with paunch, ears tract fight. Other CUNY Day actions As preparations began for the serves are almost gone, despite benefit which declared the state of emer- and tail – handed out flyers with included a large rally at BMCC, co- April 19 rally at Schmidt’s office in changes that were made to contain costs. gency in bargaining in January, suggestions such as, “CUNY faculty sponsored with student groups, in- midtown Manhattan, the union also Unless CUNY contributes more – and moved at the end of March to estab- and staff: if you need more money, formational picketing at Queensbor- launched a drive to ask members to soon – cuts in benefit coverage will be un- lish a Union Defense Fund. The get a second job.” Student perform- ough and Queens, and information contribute to the new Union De- avoidable. Fund is a voluntary fundraising ef- ers rattled cups, panhandling for tu- tables and leafleting at City Tech. fense Fund. The Delegate Assem- fort for an intensified and more mil- ition for themselves and health care Chapter meetings to discuss the bly voted to establish the Fund to itant contract fight. “We have seen or child care for their professors. status of negotiations were held over “expand the union’s capacity to ances show how the Welfare Fund has had to that our pressure works,” the DA March 27 was CUNY Day, as es- the next several days at York, wage a public, militant campaign w levels. Experts recommend that benefit funds resolution states, “but we will need tablished by the NYC City Council Baruch, Lehman, KCC, City, Hunter for a fair contract.” (See pages 11 expenses. The WF last met this level in 1998.] to be prepared to press even harder four years ago, and the PSC chapter and John Jay, with turnout general- and 12 for details.) 8 NEWS Clarion | April 2005 Summer school for union women

By MARCIA NEWFIELD ences, yet never felt the level of ac- Northeast Institute part of labor, women’s history ceptance, warmth and support as I The five-day Northeast Regional did that week from such a diverse Summer Institute for Union of their age-long struggle, which is group of women. My five-year-old Women is a whirlwind for those not yet over, for human rights and can now sing, ‘The union makes us who attend, one that leaves an in- personal civil liberty.” This pro- strong.’ She also enjoys Click, Clack, delible impression. union space for learning survived Moo, the children’s book on how the At 8:30 every morning, more than for 17 years and spawned many oth- farm animals organize and use the 100 participants gather to preview er residential workers’ schools in typewriter” to tell the farmer what the day’s events and sing “Solidari- the United States. they need. ty Forever” in one of three lan- A modern successor to the Bryn Debbie Parker, director of the guages. Then we rush off to work- Mawr Summer School, the Northeast Women’s Center at BMCC, was in- shops on collective bargaining, legal Regional Summer Institute for Union spired to import the Women’s Labor rights, public speaking and leader- Women was conceived in 1975 by the History slide show for a women’s ship skills. There are lunchtime late labor educator Barbara history event on March 10, where n o

meetings, followed by afternoon ses- i Wertheimer, author of several well- retail workers’ union leader Ida Tor- t c e l sions on writing for union work, us- l respected books including We Were res, an Institute founder who is now o C

ing the internet or combating do- o There: The Story of Working Women treasurer of the New York Central t o h

mestic violence. Evening events P in America from Pre-Colonial Times Labor Council, spoke, along with

g r include guest speakers and a dra- e to the Early 20th Century and Labor PSC President Barbara Bowen. b n a

matic slide show documenting the h Education for Women Workers. S

e MANY VOICES s

achievements of women in the labor i The Institute’s goal is to bring to- u o L movement. For homework, we ana- gether labor educators, union lead- This summer’s Northeast Region- , U lyze our own union contract struc- Y ers, and rank-and-file members to al Summer Institute for Union N

, s tures and by laws, write articles for e help strengthen women’s knowl- Women will be held at Cornell Uni- v i h c the school newsletter, and practice r edge of the US labor movement, un- versity in Ithaca from August 7 to A

r for the Institute chorus. o derstand its present challenges and 12, with the theme of “One World – b a L

r issues, and develop skills that moti- Many Voices of Union Women.” Co- e

AWARENESS n g

a vate them to be more active union sponsors are United Association of W

.

Alex Tarasko, professor of nurs- F members in an atmosphere of sis- Labor Educators (UALE), the Coali-

t r ing and a union grievance counselor e terhood and solidarity. tion of Labor Union Women b o at Queensborough Community Col- R PSC attendees have realized that (CLUW), and the AFL-CIO. Locals of lege, attended in 2002. She sums it Established in 1921, the Bryn Mawr Summer School for Working Women helped promise, and have brought the major unions in the northeast, in- up this way: “Being introduced to inspire today’s union women summer schools. lessons of the Institute back to cluding AFSCME, CWA, SEIU, the history of the labor movement CUNY. Maria Doherty, a PSC orga- TWU and the UAW, are all expect- from a woman’s perspective and ed leadership. Bergen first attended based educational projects for work- nizer, says she has used techniques ed to send students. UALE is also seeing women who fought for the as a student in 1987, and since 2000 ing-class women, such as the Bryn she learned at the Institute to orga- sponsoring three other schools for rights of workers created a shift in has been on the faculty, teaching Mawr Summer School for nize Research Foundation union women this summer (infor- my awareness and consciousness. I leadership skills and advanced Women Workers. Building workers at LaGuardia mation at www.uale.org). felt empowered, and when I came grievance training. Each year the The Bryn Mawr school was skills and Community College. Ellen For a brochure and more informa- back in the fall, I was tuned in to the Institute is led by two co-coordina- formed in 1921, shortly after Steinberg, a CLT chapter tion on the Northeast Institute, con- labor issues [of] women on the cam- tors, one from academia and one women won the right to vote. knowledge officer, commented, “What tact Debra Bergen at dbergen@psc- pus....And because I came to the In- from the union movement. Bergen College President Martha of labor I got was a sense of solidar- mail.org, or 212-354-1252. stitute with a HEO, an adjunct, and was chosen as the labor co-coordi- Carey Thomas, Dean Hilda ity with other union a CLT from CUNY, I received an ed- nator for 2003. Smith and YWCA leaders wanted to women, and inspiration to impart Marcia Newfield, PSC VP for part- ucation from them about their labor give women factory workers an op- my enthusiasm and activism to oth- time personnel and adjunct griev- concerns.” ROOTS GO BACK portunity to “widen their influence ers.” HEO Vera Weekes called the ance counselor, has attended the In- Tarasko is one of 17 faculty and This summer, the Institute will in the industrial world.” As Thomas summer school “truly a life-chang- stitute since 2002. She became inter- staff whose attendance the PSC has hold its 30th annual session. But wrote, “The peculiar kind of sympa- ing experience.” ested in the portrayal of labor in chil- sponsored since 2001, when Debra while the Institute was established thy that binds women together Helen Creedon, a PSC member dren’s literature, and in 2003, along Bergen, the PSC’s director of con- 30 years ago, in many ways its roots seems to come only to those who who teaches at the Hunter College with teaching a workshop on writing tract administration, introduced the go back much further. It was in- have not been free. It belongs at the Campus Schools, said, “I have at- for union work, offered a mini-work- Institute to the union’s newly elect- spired in part by earlier university- present time to all women because tended many schools and confer- shop on teaching labor to kids. Belle Zeller Fund parts ways with PSC By PETER HOGNESS tions for Fund trustees. The union fied and very interested in the mis- Insists on non-union trustee nonetheless continued to support sion of the Fund.” “With deep regret,” PSC staff re- the Fund; Bell and Weiss’s letter “We have never had a fee payer signed in March from their posi- sen not to join the union constitutes sole function” of the Fund “is to notes that the PSC “has subsidized as a trustee in the entire 25-year his- tions with the Belle Zeller Scholar- an act of such disrespect to the award scholarships to deserving the Trust Fund’s fundraising and tory of the Fund,” said Irwin Yel- ship Trust Fund. They acted after PSC/CUNY and to the memory of students, according to our criteria.” scholarship application processing lowitz, a member of the Fund’s the Fund’s board insisted on ap- Belle Zeller that we can no longer Therefore, she said, “the Board of work for the past 27 years.” board who also serves as its treasur- pointing a trustee who refuses to serve as staff support to the Trustees consists of people who can “The PSC Executive er. “In my mind it runs join the union. trustees,” stated PSC Executive Di- best identify such students with no Council took our responsi- A scholarship counter to the basic spir- The scholarship fund was created rector Deborah Bell and Pension reference to their political views, bility to nominate trustees established to it of the Belle Zeller Fund, by the PSC in 1979 in honor of Belle and Welfare Benefits Director whether they are members of the very seriously,” said PSC which was set up to hon- Zeller, the union’s founding presi- Clarissa Gilbert Weiss, in a letter of union or fee payers, Republicans or Secretary Cecelia McCall. honor a lifelong or the first PSC president dent and a committed trade union- resignation on March 17. PSC staff Democrats.” “This year we nominated unionist and a person who was a ist. Criteria for the annual awards had done most of the Fund’s admin- The non-union appointment came a member from a chapter lifelong unionist.” Yel- include both academic achievement istrative work and organized its an- after years of friction between the that had expressed particular inter- lowitz called the move “a very great and service to the community. nual fundraising dinner. Fund’s board and the PSC. For the est in promoting the Belle Zeller mistake on the part of the trustees,” The trustees’ choice of a faculty Shirley Beheshti, chair of the last several years, the self-selecting Scholarships, a young faculty mem- and “an act that will be to the great member “who has consciously cho- Fund’s board, told Clarion that “the board had rejected all PSC nomina- ber who was extremely well quali- disadvantage of the students.” Clarion | April 2005 NEWS 9

Direct-to-consumer marketing boom Drug ads may be harmful to your health

By FRANCINE BREWER & PETER HOGNESS of respondents thought that the tack link as early as 2000, and FDA must approve drug ads before for many patients Vioxx – an If you watch television, you’ve cer- they are shown. This is not the case, expensive drug – offered little tainly seen them. Very attractive and FDA efforts to monitor the flood or no more benefit than over- people (who don’t look sick) are the-counter medicines like as- shown in bucolic settings, living pirin, ibuprofen (Advil) or pain-free, symptom-free, disease- YOUR HEALTH naproxen (Aleve). c free lives. These ads suggest that if Would Vioxx have been so wide- e m e N you ask your doctor for a certain of television ads have been under- ly prescribed and taken if demand y r o drug, you will also live a wonderful staffed and underfunded. had not been artificially stimulated g e r life. Direct-to-consumer drug ads The number of FDA enforcement by direct-to-consumer ads? “The un- G are beautiful, filmed in bright, actions has steadily declined in re- derlying problem with these drugs,” cheerful colors. They are designed cent years. In 2002 – 2004, the FDA concluded a New York Times editor- most ex- by the best advertising agencies, sent out 70% fewer warning and vio- ial, “is that they have been heavily pensive drugs are two and they produce results. lation notices than in the previous promoted and thus prescribed important reasons for the skyrocket- Major pharmaceutical companies three years. promiscuously to patients who did surprising ing prices of prescription medica- (Merck, Pfizer and others) spend $4 “In the rare cases where the FDA not need to take them.” that the drugs that are tions. The charts on page 6 of this is- billion a year on direct-to-consumer took action…there were long delays,” But doctors are in a difficult posi- most heavily prescribed are those sue of Clarion show how this has advertising. They’re not doing it for a report by House Democrats con- tion when a patient wants to take a most heavily marketed to con- hurt the PSC/CUNY Welfare Fund. their health – or for yours. The pur- cluded earlier this year. In 2003, the drug (perhaps influenced by those sumers, according to a study by the Where, then, can you get reliable pose of all that spending is to stimu- average delay between the appear- beautiful ads). “Many of these pa- Centers for Disease Control. information about different drugs? late sales of the drugs that yield the ance of a false or misleading ad and tients are already convinced that the How can you educate yourself about highest profits. the FDA’s first action was 177 days – products advertised are the answer MISLEADING the appropriateness of a particular almost six months. to their problems – and they mis- The pharmaceutical industry medication for your use? With the BAD RESULTS Even ads that do not trust [their doctor] if [the group PhRMA argues that direct-to- support from the AFL-CIO and oth- The results can be bad for individ- draw an FDA complaint can They’re good doctor] says otherwise,” consumer drug advertising is edu- er pro-consumer groups, Consumer ual patients, and for the entire be harmful to patients’ for company noted an article in the jour- cational – that it “enhances con- Reports has launched a website de- health care system. New Zealand is health. One example is the nal of the American College sumer knowledge about diseases signed to do just that, www.crbest- planning to ban direct-to-consumer arthritis pain medication profits, but of Physicians (ACP). and treatments.” Dr. Marcia Angell, buydrugs.org. Other good sources of drug ads – which will leave the US Vioxx: in 2000, its maker bad for When prescription drugs former editor of the New England unbiased information include the as the only industrialized country Merck spent $160 million on viewers. are marketed like other con- Journal of Medicine, disagrees. book Worst Pills, Best Pills and the where they are allowed. consumer ads for Vioxx, sumer products, patients These ads “mainly benefit the bot- related website, www.worstpills. Direct-to-consumer advertising more than was spent on advertising start to think of buying a drug as just tom line of the drug industry, not org, both from Public Citizen. (For began in earnest in 1997, when the for Budweiser or for Pepsi. The re- another consumer choice. “Patients the public,” she wrote in The New information and a laugh, see Food and Drug Administration sults were impressive: retail sales of almost feel that the physician’s office Republic. “They mislead consumers www.prescriptionforchange.org.) (FDA) changed its rules. “No longer Vioxx grew four-fold in just one year, is the drive-through window at more than they inform them, and It often takes years before a safe- would the FDA require...volumi- reaching $1.5 billion in 2000. McDonald’s, where they put their or- they pressure physicians to pre- ty warning is added to a drug’s label nous information about the drug’s der in and you fill it,” a Kentucky scribe new, expensive and often or it is withdrawn from the market. side effects in television and radio PUSHING VIOXX physician told the ACP. marginally helpful drugs, although Forget those beautiful TV ads – if ads,” explains the pharmaceutical But Merck was forced to with- If the doctor refuses to prescribe a more conservative option might you have questions about medicine industry group PhRMA. Since then draw Vioxx from the market in Sep- a drug, the patient may go to anoth- be better for the patient. That is and your health, consult your doctor spending on direct-to-consumer ads tember 2004 due to studies showing er physician to obtain it. In a study probably why direct-to-consumer and do your own research. has boomed, growing more than a substantial increase in risk of car- published in the Journal of Family ads are not permitted in other ad- five-fold since 1996. diovascular problems (heart attacks Practice, one-quarter of those inter- vanced countries less in the thrall of Francine Brewer is a member of the Many people believe that drug ad- and strokes) if patients took the viewed said they would do so – and the pharmaceutical industry.” PSC Health Care Reform Committee. vertising is well regulated. They are drug for 18 months or more. There 15% would consider changing to a The billions of dollars spent on ad- To contact the committee, write to mistaken. One study found that half had been evidence for the heart at- new doctor for good. It is thus not vertising and the over-selling of the [email protected].

PSC PRE-RETIREMENT CONFERENCE Fall calendar is settled The annual PSC Pre-Retirement Conference will be held on Wednesday, May 18, 2005, from 9 to 4 at the CUNY Graduate Center. This conference, designed for members who are By DEBORAH BELL PSC contract, CUNY must negoti- early. After several months of dis- about five years away from retirement, will feature speakers on financial planning, health PSC Executive Director ate with the union about changing cussion and threats to extend Fall benefits and taxes. Please return the form below. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. it. In bargaining for a new contract, semester into January, a settlement The Fall 2005 academic calendar management has proposed a per- was reached. has finally been resolved. CUNY manent change in annual For Fall 2005, Monday I will attend the PSC Pre-Retirement Conference. management’s proposed calendar leave, with faculty re- Schedule classes scheduled to end included three days of no classes in turning earlier in Au- after 4 pm will begin on Enclosed is $_____ registration fee for _____ places at $20 each. October for Rosh Hashanah, which gust. PSC negotiators ar- changes for August 29. All other class- Name ______would not allow for 15 weeks of gue that the summer an- Rosh Hashanah es will begin August 30. classes and a full exam period be- nual leave period is cru- Full-time faculty who Address ______fore Christmas. Therefore, CUNY cial for scholarly work, given teach on August 29 will be compen- City ______State ______Zip ______proposed starting Fall semester on CUNY’s teaching load, and should sated at the appropriate adjunct Retirement System ______College ______August 29, one day earlier than the not be reduced. rate for time worked that day. On contractual end of the full-time fac- On CUNY’s proposal for the Fall Monday, October 3, the first night of Date of original CUNY employment ______ulty’s annual leave period. 2005 schedule, the PSC responded Rosh Hashanah, all classes ending Because the summer annual by insisting that full-time faculty be before 4 pm will be held, and all Make checks payable to Professional Staff Congress and return by May 11, 2005 to: leave period is a provision of the compensated for returning one day classes ending after 4 pm will not. Clarissa Gilbert Weiss, PSC, 25 W. 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036. 10 REVIEW & COMMENT Clarion | April 2005

BOOK REVIEW

tists and students. Distorted research re- sults injure the general public and create distrust of university work. Academia for sale? Finally, curricula are distorted to favor science and business, while humanities and By RENATE BRIDENTHAL denied tenure at Berkeley. He had published social sciences wither. In general, the Brooklyn College (emerita) research indicating that genetically latter fields have fewer “prod- modified corn had contaminated ucts” to market and therefore at- University, Inc: The Corporate Corruption of Higher native maize in Mexico; his depart- tract less funding in a “market- Education. By Jennifer Washburn. Basic ment had recommended him for tenure model university.” This model has already Books, 2005, 326 pp., $26.00. by a vote of 32-1. affected the structure of the professoriate. Despite this and other corporate bully- Washburn gives NYU as an example, where his stunning study of how the ing at UC campuses, Governor Gray “stars” are offered salaries in six figures, commercial ethos in universities Davis pushed for UC to increase its col- while the majority of classes are taught by has subverted the values of hu- laboration with industry, with the cre- adjuncts whose academic freedom is peren- manism and the public good is a ation of the California Institutes for Sci- nially at stake. chilling heads-up for anyone in- ence and Innovation. Davis offered $100 Tvolved in higher education. Jennifer Wash- million a year in public funds to each THE ‘MARKET MODEL’ c e burn has accumulated an alarming amount of of four new UC institutes, contingent m Have we at CUNY been affected by these e N

y information about the consequences of the in- on each raising twice that much from r processes? According to the 2004 – 2008 Mas- o g e trusion of the market into research universi- other sources. The goal of this public/ r ter Plan, $198 million will go to building an ties. Not only are academic activities skewed private project is commercialization of G Advanced Science Research Center in the interests of profit, but the public at discoveries through the academic on the City College campus. Its large is also cheated and sometimes harmed. integration of venture-capital focus is to be biosensing, tech- Washburn’s chief focus is to show how management and business nologies that can be used for the corporate stranglehold on academic sci- incubators, with industrial the identification, monitor- ence, particularly in medicine, pharmacolo- parks intertwined with uni- ing, and/or control of bio- gy and biotechnology, has sacrificed basic versity research facilities. logic phenomena. While research and even integrity to industry’s federally sponsored (taxpayer-financed) re- this has some medical uses, expected exter- short-term bottom line. Here are some of PUBLIC FUNDING IS CUT search on a large scale, has led to a new par- nal collaborators include Raytheon, Lock- her examples: “When these expensive commercial-re- adigm, a “market-model university,” that in- heed Martin, Northrop Grumman and IBM. I In the 1990s, the tobacco industry paid search centers were being launched,” Wash- creasingly puts short-term profit ahead of Some of us ought to do some Washburn-type academic scientists up to $20,000 each to burn writes, “state spending on the UC sys- humanistic education and basic research. research about all that. publicly downplay the risks of smoking. tem declined by 14 percent, even as enroll- The more public universities are starved I The Enron Corporation financed the ment climbed 18 percent.” of public funds, the more they will find pri- Editor’s note: Jennifer Washburn will be the Harvard Electricity Policy Group, which Washburn knows that university-based vate resources tempting. But the intellectual featured speaker at the April 22 UFS confer- wrote 31 reports promoting deregulation of research in the US has often tended toward and moral costs are high. Secrecy has en- ence, “Recapturing the ‘Public’ in Public High- California’s energy markets. utility, originally through land grants for closed the scientific commons. Intellectual er Education,” 9:30 - 3:00 at the CUNY Gradu- I At Brown University, Microfibres Inc. agricultural colleges and later for war-relat- property battles have led to charges of steal- ate Center. To register, call 212-794-5538 or tried to prevent Dr. David Kern from pub- ed research. But, she argues that 1980 legis- ing research and the abuse of junior scien- e-mail [email protected]. lishing his findings on a potentially fatal new lation, the University Small Business Patent lung disease that affected workers at its fac- Procedures Act, or Bayh-Dole Act, which tory. Microfibres was being asked to donate permitted universities to patent and license Corporate influence is growing. to a new project for Brown Medical School, and the Brown administration told Kern not to publish or present his work. After protest, Brown backed off and Kern presented his re- CONTRACT FIGHT sults at a conference – but a few days later, his position at Brown was eliminated. I Also at Brown, it was revealed that Dr. Martin Keller, lead author of a study endors- Political support for PSC contract needs ing the safety and effectiveness of the anti- depressant Paxil, was paid over half a mil- The following letter, addressed to conduct the research that builds years will begin to look for Assemblyman Pete Grannis lion dollars in a single year in consulting fees Chancellor Goldstein and the the University’s reputation.... positions elsewhere if CUNY Councilman Robert Jackson from drug companies. One of the companies Trustees of the City University of CUNY’s offer is considerably be- salaries do not even keep pace Assemblywoman Rhoda Jacobs was the maker of Paxil, later identified as po- New York, was signed by 45 elect- low the level of inflation and out with inflation? Councilwoman Melinda Katz tentially inducing suicide among teenagers. ed officials prior to manage- of line with the recent settlement I call on you to do everything Senator Jeffrey Klein ment’s latest contract offer. reached with the SUNY faculty you can to reach a fair settle- Councilman Oliver Koppell NOVARTIS GETS A VOTE union for 15% in increases over ment with the Professional Staff Senator Liz Krueger Increasingly, corporate influence goes As a member of the New York four years. Such an offer not only Congress. By supporting com- Assemblyman Ivan Lafayette beyond exerting pressure from the outside. City delegation, I write in support insults people who have given petitive salaries, decent benefits Councilwoman Margarita Lopez Novartis, the Swiss-based multinational of the 20,000 members of the Pro- their professional lives to CUNY, and good working conditions for Assemblywoman Nettie Mayersohn pharmacological company and producer of fessional Staff Congress, the fac- it risks undermining the City CUNY’s faculty and staff, you Assemblyman Brian McLaughlin genetically engineered crops, signed an ulty and professional staff at the University itself. continue the forward motion of Assemblyman Joel Miller agreement in 1998 with the University of City University of New York. The During the past few years, the the University. Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan California at Berkeley to fund research in its PSC’s contract with CUNY Legislature has invest- Assemblyman Clarence Norman Department of Plant and Microbial Biology. expired more than two “Failure ed significant political Signed by: Assemblyman Daniel O’Donnell In return, Novartis got the first right to ne- years ago, and the instruc- to provide support in CUNY, press- Assemblyman Jeffrion Aubry Senator Kevin Parker gotiate licenses on one-third of the discover- tional staff has gone more ing for increased re- Assemblyman Michael Benjamin Senator David Paterson ies, whether funded by its donations or by than three years without a adequate sources on the grounds Assemblyman James Brennan Assemblyman José Peralta taxpayers’ money. Novartis also got two of raise. salaries” that the University was Assemblyman Ronald Canestrari Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer five seats on the departmental committee While it would not be ap- undergoing a renais- Assemblywoman Ann M. Carrozza Senator Mary Lou Rath that determined how the money would be propriate for me to become in- sance. While I am gratified to see Assemblywoman Barbara Clark Councilman Phil Reed spent; the three university appointees all re- volved in the details of collective the expansion of CUNY and en- Assemblywoman Adele Cohen Assemblyman José Rivera ceived large research awards from the firm. bargaining, I wish to express my hancement of many of its pro- Assemblyman William Colton Assemblyman Peter Rivera An external review by a team from Michi- support for a fair and speedy res- grams, I am alarmed that a fail- Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr. Senator Diane Savino gan State University concluded that such olution of the contract. If there ure to provide adequate salaries, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz Senator Eric Schneiderman agreements should not be repeated because has been a renaissance at CUNY, health benefits and working con- Senator Thomas Duane Councilman Larry Seabrook they created conflicts of interest for the uni- it is primarily because of the ditions will jeopardize recent Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat Senator José Serrano versity as an institution. work of the faculty and staff. It is gains. Councilman Eric Gioia Senator Toby Stavisky Such concerns were amplified when a they who teach the students, sup- How many of the 600 full-time Assemblywoman Deborah Glick Councilman Kendall Stewart leading opponent of the Novartis deal was port their academic growth and faculty hired in the last two Assemblyman Richard Gottfried Assemblyman Scott Stringer Clarion | April 2005 OPINION 11

CONTRACT FIGHT Why we need a Union Defense Fund By BARBARA BOWEN PSC President

n the night of March 31, the PSC took a major step in our escalat- ing fight for a contract. Union delegates voted overwhelming- ly to create a Union Defense FOund. Not since the PSC’s long campaign for a first contract, in 1973, has the union felt the need to take such serious action. Why a Defense Fund – and why now? The answer begins with the developments at the bargaining table in the middle of March. After months of very little movement, CUNY management responded to the pres- s sure you have brought through marches, s e n g pickets, phone calls and faxes. Management o H

r e did what they had vowed they would never t e do – they gave us a higher offer even though P we had refused to lower our own proposal. PSC President Bowen (right) addresses members and students at a March 26 rally at Brooklyn College. Perhaps the best way of understanding Five days later, the union made a compre- the difference between our proposal and hensive counterproposal. The difference be- The third concessionary element of the remedy for the problem of pay inequity by management’s is that the union presents an tween the two proposals defines our fight. University’s proposal is on working condi- adding to, rather than subtracting from, the alternative to the concessionary framework. Although management’s March 17 proposal tions. Management’s offer includes a total economic package. There is a similar Chancellor Goldstein, despite his promise represents significant movement from their demand that we finance 1% of our below- creativity in other union proposals: we seek last May that he did not intend to offer “an disastrous 1.5% offer, it still amounts to a de- inflation “raises” by adding seven days to recurring increases to the Welfare Fund, austerity contract” to the PSC, has done just mand for concessions on wages, benefits and the full-time faculty work-year, returning to starting with the first year of the contract, that. Worse, he has tried to pass it off as the working conditions. However much the Chan- campus on August 22 rather than August 30, not just a half-measure that does not solve best we can hope for. Meanwhile, Mayor cellor may try to disguise the fact, his propos- the current contractual date. In addition, it the structural deficit. We identify a way of Bloomberg continues his attempt to brain- al suggests we take cuts in benefits, lose demands that department chairs be removed providing support for childcare expenses wash the city into believing that the only ground on salaries, work more hours, and from the union, along with several other PSC with a proposal modeled on a benefit avail- possibility for public-employee unions is con- make concessions such as the removal of de- members who currently work in the Chan- able at SUNY. We insist that there are funds cessions, and so far, he has kept the unions partment chairs from the union. I cannot cellor’s Office or in management offices on for improved sabbatical pay and progress on from breaking through that framework. By imagine any reason to accept such an offer. the campuses. The agenda is clear: increase paid parental leave. And we call for a range the time you read this, the police union may management control, reduce the power of of non-economic improvements that would have received its arbitration decision about NO SALARY CUT the faculty, weaken the union. make a real difference in our lives without a contract settlement, but whatever is set- Consider management’s latest proposal ele- A final problem with the Chancellor’s pro- adding a single dollar to the cost of the con- tled there, the PSC will still face a fight. ment by element. On salaries it offers a total in- posal is its failure of imagination. What’s tract – adherence to fire safety require- It’s because of the magnitude of that fight crease of 6.25%, compounded, over four years, missing is any concept that our lives at ments, improved due process, stronger lan- that we need a Union Defense Fund. The with an additional 1% increase to be funded by CUNY could be improved: there is nothing in guage on non-discrimination. All of these ceiling we must break through is political our own increased workload. I’ll come back to the proposal on paid parental leave, nothing have been rejected by management. and ideological as well as economic. It’s an the increased workload, but the obvious fact on on improved sabbatical pay, nothing on sick artifact of a 30-year history of “pattern the salaries is that they don’t even keep up days for adjuncts, nothing on improved due UNACCEPTABLE bargaining” in New York City. To win a non- with the cost of living. An “increase” of 6.25% process, nothing on equity in annual leave Whereas the Chancellor’s proposal limits concessionary contract in this political envi- means that the real-dollar value of our salaries for Library faculty, nothing on health and salary increases to unacceptable levels, the ronment is a tall order for any union, but it would fall. Despite Chancellor Goldstein’s safety protections. Management’s proposal union calls for increases worth, on average, can be done. One thing that may make it claim in his e-mail message of March 21 that also fails spectacularly to address the single 10.87%, with an additional $500 added to base more possible is that this austerity agenda is “our first priority in these negotiations is to biggest structural inequity in our workplace: salary for some members in recognition of politically manufactured – by everything apply as much as possible of the economic the pay gap for CUNY’s 9,500 part-time longevity. Our salary proposal, modeled on from Bloomberg’s corporate ideology to a package to across-the-board salary increases,” faculty, who still teach half of all courses. the settlement reached with SUNY faculty regressive tax policy to the cost of the war. what he has actually proposed is a salary cut. The union’s counterproposal, on the other earlier this year, would raise the top salary There is no shortfall in the City budget – in It’s the same story on benefits. Although hand, calls for a total economic package to more than $103,000. It would also combine fact, this year there is a surplus of $2.5 billion. the Chancellor claims that his proposal worth more than 14%, in comparison to man- percentage increases and dollar amounts to responds “to the PSC’s concerns regarding agement’s 6.25% (plus a one-time amount of base salary, a mixture that benefits both the SERIOUS FIGHT the Welfare Fund,” before the end of this $800 and a $200 per capita increase in Wel- higher and the lower ends of the salary The Union Defense Fund is a major tool in contract it would leave us facing the same fare Fund payments). Our proposal would scale. While far from a princely increase, the our struggle. By turning to one of the labor dilemma we face now. The $200 increase maintain progress on salaries, stabilize the union proposal offers a way to support both movement’s oldest and strongest practices, offered by management comes nowhere Welfare Fund, and offer creative solutions to salaries and benefits, refusing to sacrifice we signal that we are preparing for a serious near the galloping cost of prescription drugs, equity issues and problems in our working one for the other, and provides for needed fight. Defense funds typically provide re- and thus provides no real solution to the conditions. On adjuncts, it offers a structural improvements in our lives at CUNY. sources for unions forced out on strike, but Welfare Fund crisis. Without larger annual we have expanded the Fund’s purpose to increases, that reserve would be spent down include several aspects of a public, militant in a few years. A major tool and the logical next step campaign. The PSC has no plan to strike, and we will continue to use every tactic we can short of a job action to win the contract Clarion APRIL 2005 we need. But we would be throwing away labor’s greatest power if we did not become Newspaper of the Professional Staff Congress/City University of New York, collective bargaining representative of the CUNY instructional staff. Vol. 34, No. 4. PSC/CUNY is affiliated with the American As- sociation of University Professors, the American Federation of Teachers (Local 2334), AFL-CIO, the New York City Central Labor Council and New York State United Teachers. Published by PSC/CUNY, 25 the kind of union that is prepared to take job West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036. Telephone: (212) 354-1252. Web site: www.psc-cuny.org. E-mail: [email protected]. All opinions expressed in these pages are not necessarily those of the PSC. action, even though we hope never to be PSC OFFICERS: Barbara Bowen, President; Steven London, First Vice President; Cecelia McCall, Secretary; John Hyland, Treasurer; Stanley Aronowitz, Jonathan Buchsbaum, Susan O’Malley, John Pittman, forced to do so. Sheldon Weinbaum, University-wide Officers; Michael Fabricant, Vice President, Senior Colleges; Robert Cermele, Janice Cline, Nancy Romer, Senior College Officers; Anne Friedman, Vice President, Com- munity Colleges; Samuel E. Farrell, Andrew McInerney, Shirley Rausher, Community College Officers; Iris DeLutro, Vice President, Cross Campus Units; Arthurine DeSola, Steven Trimboli, Vera Weekes, The Defense Fund is the logical next step. Cross Campus Officers; Marcia Newfield, Vice President, Part-Time Personnel; Susan DiRaimo, Denise Ingram, Diane Menna, Part-Time Personnel Officers; Irwin H. Polishook, President Emeritus; Israel Ku- I ask you to make a contribution. By con- gler, Deputy President Emeritus; Peter I. Hoberman, Vice President Emeritus, Cross Campus Units. tributing you empower the union to fight for STAFF: Deborah Bell, Executive Director; Mary Ann Carlese, Associate Executive Director; Faye H. Alladin, Coordinator, Financial Services; Debra L. Bergen, Director, Contract Administration & University-wide Grievance Counselor; Barbara Gabriel, Coordinator, Office Services and Human Resources; Diana Rosato, Coordinator, Membership Department; Clarissa Gilbert Weiss, Director, Pension and Welfare Benefits. your interests, you signal your support for Editor: Peter Hogness / Assistant Editor: Dania Rajendra / Designer: Margarita Aguilar the union’s proposal, and you subtly change © 2005 Professional Staff Congress/CUNY your relation to the place where you work. 12 FEATURE Clarion | April 2005

that they were building a grad stu- PSC people: Sally Hoskins dent dorm. And it was a complete lie. I believed them. I was naïve.

And your life outside of work? Well, I like having a garden. I split Frogs and science a cappella my time between the Upper West Side and a small house with a big Sally Hoskins is a professor of biology at yard in Putnam County. I like City College. She earned a BS from the working with my hands – sewing, University of Illinois at Urbana-Cham- making jewelry, knitting. I just like paign in 1975 and a PhD in biology making stuff. from the University of Chicago in 1982. On the train, I often study mu- Hoskins came to New York to do post- sic, because I conduct a women’s a doctoral work in neurobiology and cappella chorus, called SHE. I like molecular biology at Columbia, and both singing and conducting. Once started at CCNY in 1988. in a while, we commission a piece. I just commissioned music for a What do you do? text I found in the elevator. It’s an I’m a developmental biologist- announcement for a high-energy slash-bioeducator. physics seminar we had at the col- lege. I know nothing about high- What got you started in biology? energy physics or, really, any oth- People say, “Oh, biologists, you er kind of physics. But I love the guys dissect frogs.” And it’s funny, seminar notices, like this one because I do work on frogs. In called “complex networks are self- junior high, I was very taken with similar.” I’m not mocking. It’s like, dissection, with what you saw in- wow, there are people in my build- side. I liked the tools and working ing who speak this language. It under the microscope. That’s a seems musical to me. total dork answer [laughs]. What is the last thing you did

You work on frogs? s with the union? e n o

I’ve had a long-term research pro- ñ It’s a little unusual to be unionized i u Q ject on the metamorphosis of the faculty, and it’s good for us. I’ve a s i nervous system. I study hormone- L been trying for years – unsuccess- regulated neural development in Biology Professor Sally Hoskins shows her students new ways to look at science – and scientists. fully – to get health and safety is- tadpoles and frogs. sues in our building dealt with. Tadpoles are different from had any training in education to of the results, including their own, dents really get it, when they catch When the union gets involved and frogs. They see differently, their teach in college. Ross Nehm, my was kind of shocking and empow- fire a little. files a grievance, at least a little skin is different, they move differ- collaborator at CCNY, has opened ering to them. more light shines on the issue. ently, they eat a different diet, they my eyes to the whole world of ped- It’s an NSF-supported project, What’s hardest? This morning I went to a Step behave differently. Underlying all agogy as an interesting thing. How and includes assessment of read- One disappointment at CCNY is One grievance hearing. Carla that are changes in the brain and do people learn, and how do you ing gains and “attitudes toward sci- that we don’t have good support Capetti and I did the training for the whole nervous system, during know if you taught them anything? ence/scientists.” Before, when they for graduate students. When I in- the grievance counselor job, which metamorphosis. Now, of course, I have the zeal of thought “scientist,” most of the stu- terviewed here, I stood in the hall- we’re sharing. If I can the do the job The biggest difference is that tad- the newly converted. dents thought, “white coat, pocket way and they told me – in 1988 – effectively, I’m glad to contribute. poles have eyes on the sides of their protectors, uncreative.” heads and frogs have binocular vi- Tell me about your new course. By the end of the semester, they sion, like people. The eyes grow The course is not just to teach got excited about biologists. They during metamorphosis and new them to read the literature – which thought, “not just faceless ro- cells are added to the system. How is a complicated, technical kind of bots…they are free thinkers, kind do they wire up? How does the writing – but also to humanize sci- of like hippies.” It was fun to see 15–MINUTE ACTIVIST brain adjust to accommodate the ence for them. the students realize, “Oh, wow, new way the eyes work? That’s I gave the students journal arti- these are people like me.” what I study. cles without the abstracts or the conclusions, and had them read the What do you like best about Contribute to the Union Defense Fund! What’s your most recent research methods and analyze the data in teaching at CCNY? interest? depth. The students had not had I was drawn to CUNY because I What will it take to get CUNY manage- union’s Delegate Assembly voted on Lately I’ve been really interested much experience really looking went to a state university and got a ment to agree to a fair contract? When March 31 to create a new Defense Fund in research in education. I did a closely and critically at experimen- very good education. I guess I had PSC members have pushed, manage- for the current state of emergency in sabbatical last year and designed tal data, and the fact that there my fill of the elite after six years of ment has moved – but not enough to contract negotiations. a method to teach undergraduates might be different interpretations Columbia. I like it when my stu- reach an agreement. It’s time for us to The original PSC Defense Fund was to read the research literature and push harder. designed to pay for extraordinary ex- to think creatively about science. A key way to do that is to contribute penses if the union were forced to carry You don’t really have to have Free thinkers, not robots to the Union Defense Fund. “Signing up out a strike or job action. The Fund for the Defense Fund is more than giv- today could play a similar role, or it could ing money, it’s a show of support,” said be used to pay for extra expenses such PSC President Barbara Bowen. “No mat- as an intensive advertising campaign. ter what size, your contribution will sig- The money will be kept in a dedicated Professional Staff Congress/CUNY NonProfit Org. nify your support for a fair contract and account at the PSC/CUNY Credit Union, 25 West 43rd Street U.S. Postage help to build the power of the union.” separate from all other union funds. Af- New York, New York 10036 PAID A letter asking members to con- ter this contract is settled, the Defense New York, N.Y. tribute is being sent out in the mail. Fund will be maintained for future Permit No. 8049 You can make a one-time donation of efforts, and regular contributions will any amount, or, better yet, fill out the continue to be encouraged. card to have a fixed amount deducted Do you want to help win a fair con- from each paycheck. Either way, you’ll tract – one that protects our Welfare be helping to make sure we have the Fund, provides real raises, and makes financial strength to fight for the con- CUNY a better place to work? You can tract that we need. make a difference in less than 15 min- Defense Funds are a common mecha- utes: just fill out your red card at a nism for building union power. The PSC chapter meeting or when it comes in established such a fund in 1973, as part the mail, and make your contribution to THIRD CLASS MAIL of its first contract campaign, and the the Union Defense Fund.