ENVIRONMENT ● Climate protest PSC members will march for action to curb climate larıon chaos. PAGE 4 CNEWSPAPER OF THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF CONGRESS / CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK SEPTEMBER 2014 ‘CUNY NEEDS a

Negotiators for the PSC and CUNY management met over the summer the PSC was pressing management to do so. As Clarion went to press, RAISE!in bargaining for a new union contract. Demands from both sides were the union was preparing for a demonstration in late September,’ which discussed, and negotiators say that some progress has been made. But will be called if management does not soon put a viable offer on the CUNY has not yet made an economic offer – and as Fall semester began, table. See inside for details. PAGE 3

RACE & INEQUALITY PENSIONS ADJUNCT HEALTH ON CAMPUS The summer of New full-timers Sign up for new Open access our discontent must pick plan plan by Sept. 19 to learning This summer, African Newly hired full-time It’s a major union victory: City Tech builds community Americans took to the faculty and staff must as of Oct. 1, adjunct health with OpenLab, a teaching and streets to demand respect choose a pension plan insurance will come through learning platform where fac- for human rights and an end within their first 30 days the NYC Health Benefits ulty and students collaborate. to racist violence in all its at CUNY. Get the Program. Sign up before the They hope to expand the proj- many forms. PAGE 10 facts inside. PAGE 8 Sept. 19 deadline. PAGES 6-7 ect to other colleges. PAGE 2

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS ● AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS ● NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION ● NYC CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL ● NYS AFL-CIO ● NEW YORK STATE UNITED TEACHERS 2 NEWS & LETTERS Clarion | September 2014

WRITE TO: CLARION/PSC, 61 BROADWAY, 15TH FLOOR, NEW YORK, NY 10006. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR | EMAIL: [email protected]. FAX: 212-302-7815. CUNY IN BRIEF Molinaro not confirmed The State Senate ended its legis- CUNY conversations on climate crisis lative session without approving former Staten Island Borough Presi- ● The People’s Climate March of information cannot be gotten just the new State of New York evalu- pervasive in diminishing school dent James Molinaro to the CUNY September 21 in New York City is from television programs, but it is ation system for student teachers performance. Board of Trustees. Last December, of critical importance. It is very not difficult to get the statements of [see Clarion, May 2014]. However, Our US population is segregated Governor Andrew Cuomo nominat- good that PSC is supporting it. The Union of Concerned Scientists, the struggle is far from over be- by race, income and ethnicity. There ed Molinaro, who had crossed party Climate change is a problem about of 350.org, or of Friends of the Earth, cause basic attitudes have not are generally poorer performances lines to endorse Cuomo in 2010. which anyone looking seriously at to mention only some of the impor- changed significantly: national from immigrant groups and mi- “I didn’t hear from nobody. I don’t the evidence, and thinking ahead tant organizations. Even easier is and state leaders still see teachers norities for reasons of poverty, lan- know anything,” Molinaro told the more than five years, can only to get to the basic science-based as the problem, overlooking deep guage, and past and present racist New York Post in June, when he was come to the conclusion that radical sources: Statements of the National inequalities and racism in our so- and exclusionary policies. contacted about his failed confirma- new policies are urgently needed. Academies, The World Bank Report ciety. A recent Economic Policy The authorities are by no means tion. “I’m not surprised by anything.” Yet in the present situation the of 2012, and mainly the recent UN Institute report shows declining finished with us or with EdTPA be- Cuomo’s appointment of Molinaro, necessary changes will not happen Intergovernmental Climate Panel incomes over the last three years cause they want to deflect attention a Conservative Party leader, rankled without a push by a strong popular report. All these have easily read- in every income group except the from bigger problems by focusing on many Democrats and women’s rights movement. able clear summaries. top two-tenths. teachers at all levels as solely re- advocates. In a 2012 public address, My point in writing this letter is Adam Koranyi Teachers, however dedicated and sponsible for student performance, Molinaro repeatedly called pop that we at CUNY have a particular Lehman College well trained, cannot overcome deep rather than all the stakeholders entertainer Lady Gaga “a slut”; he responsibility in this matter to- inequalities and entrenched and including parents, students, and has also expressed a desire to slash wards our students. I think it is our growing racism. There is an almost leadership itself. funds for unwed teenage mothers. duty to reach out to them and en- Inequality and education perfect correlation between school They want a cheap way out, and a The Post reports that it was un - courage them to educate themselves ● Our union, united with the UUP, test scores, student performance, smokescreen that hides underlying clear whether Cuomo withdrew about climate change and about NYSUT and others, successfully and teacher accomplishment with problems. Molinaro’s nomination or the the popular movement aimed at won college students in education socioeconomic status. Such in- Jack Zevin State Senate refused to take up his keeping it under control. Sufficient an 18-month reprieve from EdTPA, equality is difficult to solve while Queens College appointment. Teach, learn and revise on OpenLab

By SHOMIAL AHMAD In terms of OpenLab’s use with later in the semester. “It reinforced courses, Smale says, the aim was the critique process, which is a huge Faculty and staff at City Tech were to create a pedagogical tool, not a part of the design process.” dissatisfied with existing software course-management tool like Black- This year Spevack has worked on for higher education – so they built board. She says the “openness” of making the site more mobile-friend- their own. The result is OpenLab, a OpenLab has advantages and it’s a ly. The group is also looking at ways collaborative tool for teaching and nice option to have. to continue funding the project once learning that’s now widely used at “It’s a place for work to take the current grant ends next year. the college. place and not to just be stored,” City Tech Coordinator of Library Smale remarked. “In some sense, NEXT STEPS Instruction Maura Smale, one work just ends up on Students who choose to publicly of the first directors of the ‘It really Blackboard. It’s less of a display their e-portfolios and other initiative, says they set out to encourages place where work is ac- work on OpenLab find that this can create a site that would help tively happening.” help when trying to score a job or students feel more connected a sense of OpenLab takes inspi- internship, according to Damon at the commuter campus. Ev- community.’ ration from other CUNY Baker, an assistant professor who erything from the back-end initiatives, like the CUNY teaches on interactive entertain- development to the airy site design Academic Commons developed at ment. Baker, who uses OpenLab to the OpenLab logo was created by the Graduate Center. Both sites for all his classes, says he’s seen City Tech faculty, staff and students. were developed by the same lead students take projects that they “It really encourages a sense of developer and use a WordPress did in class and translate them to community, because you can see platform that connects its pages the start of a career. One student what’s happening, what courses with the online social networking posted a short video that showed are going on,” Smale told Clarion. tool BuddyPress. the successful result of his project “We’ve had students say they’ll and gave a short explanation of how look at other courses in their pro- COLLABORATION he accomplished it. gram just to see what those students Compared to the Commons, “the “He had rigged up a drum kit, are doing in the class.” OpenLab’s main difference is that OpenLab is Pat Arnow so if he played the drums it would emphasis on collaboration makes more course-centered” says Jody OpenLab Codirector Jody Rosen at a campus workshop, where City Tech faculty trigger LEDs that he’d built inside it well suited for this kind of cross- Rosen, a co-director of the OpenLab explored ways to use OpenLab in their courses. of it,” Baker told Clarion. “Now he class connection, or for a joint proj- project. “There are a few courses does this for theatrical and some ect that two or more classes might that are taught on [the Academic In one learning community, project, says an important aspect of commercial display systems.” work on together. Commons], but by and large it’s not where the same students were the platform is teaching the process The architects of OpenLab hope to OpenLab is part of a five-year really course-focused – it’s more taking classes in both hospital- of design, with her students learn- expand it beyond City Tech to other City College initiative funded by interest-group focused.” ity management and English, they ing to “revise, revise, revise.” colleges and CUNY campuses. That the federal government with a grant Rosen used OpenLab last Spring created “#TheGuide” for other could mean packaging the open- that ends next fall. The site isn’t just in a hybrid course (both online first-year students at City Tech. In ONLINE PORTFOLIOS source code OpenLab uses so it’s eas- limited to course pages, though and in person) titled “Introduc- it students explored “local grub,” Early in the semester in one of her ily shared, much like the “Commons that’s its primary use. City Tech tion to Women Writers.” She had gave tips on good study skills and design courses, Spevack conducted In A Box” developed by the CUNY clubs can create pages, groups can her students respond to readings explored things to do on the Brook- class online and had students use Academic Commons. create projects and City Tech stu- with blog posts and make video lyn waterfront. an OpenLab discussion board to “I think in a lot of colleges you’re dents can create their own electron- presentations, all of which were Jenna Spevack, an associate pro- critique each other’s work. “The separated in your department,” Spe- ic portfolios, compiling work done in posted on her OpenLab course site. fessor of advertising design, says students that never spoke were vack said. “With OpenLab students, several classes. To date, more than Like other WordPress sites, course that her graphic-design course there posting and commenting quite faculty and staff will have a greater 500 City Tech faculty and 9,000 City sites can have RSS feeds, and post websites on OpenLab work well as readily,” said Spevack, noting that ability to see what other people are Tech students have created a page YouTube videos and SlideShare a virtual sketchbook. Spevack, who the online discussion helped make doing, and perhaps collaborate, work through the lab. presentations. is also a co-director of the OpenLab in-class discussions more lively on coursework together.” Clarion | September 2014 NEWS 3

CALENDAR SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 / 9:30 am – 12:30 pm: Meeting of the PSC Inter- Union asks management national Committee. For location and other information, contact Renate Bridenthal at Bridenthalr@ yahoo.com.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 / 6:00 pm: La- to make an economic offer bor Goes to the Movies screens The Island President (2011), a docu- mentary that depicts the Maldives By PETER HOGNESS cussed at the table so far is the need president’s effort to curb sea level In contract negotiations for library faculty to have the same rise by capping carbon dioxide Representatives of the PSC and amount of time for annual leave as emissions. Shot mostly during the CUNY management were busy over in order for contract talks to be emphasized. “The momentum to other full-time faculty. One bar- 2009 UN Climate Summit in Co- the summer, in talks for a new col- successful. settle NYC contracts may be lost, gaining session included detailed, penhagen. This year’s theme for lective bargaining agreement. De- and the real economic need of PSC compelling testimony by several the monthly series is “Apocalypse,” mands from both sides have been NO ECONOMIC OFFER members is too great.” CUNY library faculty on the nation- with films on nuclear confronta- discussed, and negotiators say that The labor agreement for fac- In past rounds of contract nego- al standing of CUNY library faculty tion, resource wars and nature’s some progress has been made. CU- ulty and professional staff at tiations, discussion took on the basis of research. metaphysical revenge. PSC Union NY has not yet made an economic CUNY is different than other Some place mainly in formal Hall, 61 Broadway, 16th floor. MEMBER POWER offer, however – and as Fall semes- municipal union contracts in progress bargaining sessions. In ter began, the PSC was pressing NYC. The PSC negotiates with the current round, the The recent agreement to shift SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 / 10:30 am: management to do so. CUNY management, not with on other two sides have taken up adjunct health coverage to the The PSC contingent for the Peo- “Every time I’m on a CUNY cam- the City or State – but because issues, a number of issues in NYC Health Benefits Program is ple’s Climate March will assemble pus, members ask me how soon we CUNY is funded by both lev- union says. smaller subcommittees, good news for covered adjuncts, for on the park (east) side of Central will get a raise,” said PSC Secre- els of government, both play a with the goal of doing whom it ends a crisis they had lived Park West at 64th Street. Expected tary Arthurine DeSola. “It is the role in any contract settlement. preliminary work that enables the with since 2011. By putting the PSC- to be the largest climate protest number-one thing I hear. They tell “The PSC bargaining team… formal sessions to make more rapid CUNY Welfare Fund on a more sus- in history, the march will pro- me that their expenses keep going understands the complexity of progress. tainable financial footing, the change ceed from Columbus Circle to the up, that an increase to our salaries working with both State and City Both sides’ demands have also also has a positive effect on contract United Nations, demanding that is long overdue – and they’re right!” governments to develop an econom- been presented in formal sessions negotiations: in many past bargain- world leaders take effective action In an August 29 statement, PSC ic offer,” Bowen noted. “But we also this summer. Discussion has identi- ing rounds, the talks were forced to against the carbon pollution that is President Barbara Bowen, the understand that members cannot fied each side’s respective priorities grapple with severe problems in the destabilizing the world’s climate. union’s chief negotiator, said that wait much longer.” While the two and has explored potential areas of Welfare Fund’s financial condition. PSC members are organizing for Chancellor Milliken’s stated com- sides have discussed how some eco- agreement. As the new academic year began, the march on CUNY campuses; for mitment to reaching a contract nomic issues might be resolved, no union leaders urged PSC members to more information, contact PSC Sol- settlement was welcome, and she bargaining on economic questions COMPETITIVE SALARIES be ready to take action in support of idarity Committee Co-Chair Jim praised “the tone of respect for the can take place until management The union’s top priorities contin- a fair contract settlement. Plans for Perlstein at jperlstein@bassmead- faculty and staff that has charac- puts an economic offer on the table. ue to be the need for more competi- a mass membership meeting in Oc- ow.com. (See article, page 4.) terized the approach of CUNY’s Of- That includes bargaining on retro- tive salaries at CUNY (especially tober, and a possible protest in late fice of Labor Relations – a marked active pay, relief on teaching load, important for an institution in a September, were being finalized as TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 / 5:30 – departure from the start of pre- equity increases, and any item with high-cost area that recruits nation- Clarion went to press (see below). 8:00 pm: The PSC Health and Safe- vious rounds of bargaining.” But a significant economic cost. ally); the need for a more reasonable “A few years ago we had a mass ty Watchdogs meet at the PSC PSC negotiators say management “We cannot risk waiting indefi- teaching load for full-time faculty; meeting in Cooper Union, and it had office, 61 Broadway. For further in- must make an economic offer soon, nitely for an economic offer,” Bowen the need for employees in the High- a tremendous effect,” said Felipe Pi- formation, contact Jean Grassman er Education Officer series to be mentel, assistant professor of sociol- at [email protected]. able to advance in their careers; and ogy at Hostos and a member of the the need for progress toward equity PSC bargaining team. “We had been THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2 / 3:00 – 5:00 pm: and fairness for CUNY’s adjuncts. stalled in negotiations with CUNY. The PSC Academic Freedom Com- Marching for justice Union negotiators report that But we had a huge turnout at that mittee meets at the PSC office, 61 some progress has been made on meeting, and management got the Broadway, 15th floor. For further noneconomic issues such as the message! This was what got negotia- information, contact Steve Leber- grievance procedure. PSC repre- tions moving again.” stein at [email protected]. sentatives have also made clear “Chancellor Milliken has spoken that there are some management publicly about his interest in mak- MONDAY, OCTOBER 6 / 1:00 pm: PSC demands on which union members ing salaries at CUNY competitive,” Retirees Chapter holds its monthly are not willing to budge, such as noted Bowen. “The best way to do meeting at the PSC Union Hall, 61 eliminating salary steps. that is to put a fair and respectful Broadway, 16th floor. Featured topic Among the equity issues dis- contract offer on the table.” is environmental politics. For fur- ther information, contact Bill Fried- heim at [email protected].

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10 / 4:30 pm: “First PSC plans demonstration Fridays” adjunct meeting will be held at the PSC, 61 Broadway, 15th floor. For further information, and a mass meeting contact Marcia Newfield at [email protected]. As Clarion went to press, the PSC they hoped to see further progress was finalizing plans for a mass at the bargaining table in Septem- THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16 / 6:00 pm: membership meeting in October, ber, the union was ready to demon- Metro NY Labor Communications focused on the current negotia- strate if a viable economic offer was Council holds a forum on “The War tions with CUNY for a new union not on the table soon. on Labor in the Legislature and contract. Other member actions to You can make sure to be kept the Courts.” CUNY Law Professor secure a fair agreement, including a informed about plans for the mass Frank Deale and DC 37 Associate possible protest in September, were meeting or other contract actions Director Henry Garrido are among also being weighed. by signing up for the union’s weekly the panelists who will address the “The best way to show the strength electronic newsletter, This Week In assault on organized labor through- of the union and the urgency of a new the PSC, at tinyurl.com/ThisWeek- out the country, from attacks on contract is to stand and be counted PSC. If you would like to help orga- teacher tenure to right-wing in- (From left) Andrea Vasquez, Cheryl Wu and Paul Washington, of the PSC’s Higher together,” said Barbara Bowen, the nize for or volunteer at the mass terests using the courts to cripple Education Officer chapter, and dozens of other PSC members were among 6,000 PSC’s president. “If a new contract is meeting, email the PSC’s Moses unions. For more info, email Greg demonstrators protesting the killing of Eric Garner by a police officer’s choke- important to you, you should be there.” Merisier at mmerisier@pscmail. Heires at [email protected]. (Loca- hold. The August 23 march took place on Staten Island. PSC negotiators said that while org for more information. tion not yet announced.) 4 WEATHER REPORT Clarion | September 2014

Clarion’s Roving Reporter talks with PSC members about the People’s Climate March (peoplesclimate.org) Why are you marching on Sept. 21? Amalia Reinhardt Chloe Pinkerton Jean Michel Shomial Ahmad Shomial ROSS KENNEDY-SHAFFER CAMILLE GOODISON EILEEN MORAN ADAM KORANYI NADIA GOMEZ Physics Teacher Assistant Professor of English Research Associate (Retired) Distinguished Professor of Graphic Designer Hunter College High School City Tech Michael Harrington Center Mathematics Marketing & Communications Office Queens College Lehman College Baruch College This is no longer some distant, ideo- I am going with a group of peace ac- logical campaign, but a problem that tivists and environmentalists from Global warming threatens almost I decided to attend when I first heard I care a lot about this issue. I feel like will affect all of us. The less action Brooklyn. I recently met with some all of us, but its worst effects are about the march. This is a matter the industry and the leaders in the we take as a society to reduce our Buddhist monks and nuns and was experienced by the poor and people of conscience for me. I think we all world aren’t making enough sub- greenhouse gas emissions now, the really blown away by their respect of color here and around the world. have a share of responsibility in the stantial changes that would be really more dramatic changes we and our for the earth and its resources. I’ve The march on September 21 is an climate policy of the country. I con- simple to make to better the environ- descendants will face. The fact that always been a bit of an environmen- opportunity to organize for good, sider that policy which has been con- ment and reduce pollution. Being a so many people – especially policy- talist, but I was really won over by clean, green jobs and challenge the sistent ever since the rejection of the part of a collective action inspires makers – either believe that climate their gentility and goodness. Watch- carbon power industry that’s caus- 1997 Kyoto agreement as genocidal, me. It’s great to see that everyone change is not the biggest problem ing them put such great respect for ing havoc and pollution everywhere. and I have to protest. I hope that an who cares is getting together and facing humanity or refuse to act the earth – for humanity, really – in I’m working with the PSC commit- impressive march will call the atten- showing that they care and speak- because of vested interests terri- their daily lives, through careful tee to recruit members of the CUNY tion of the misinformed wider public ing out about it. It’s being billed as fies me. Direct action now seems mindfulness practice, was very community to join us but will invite to the gravity of the situation and the largest demonstration of its kind. to be the only option left to spread inspiring. I think it’s important to all my friends and family too. I also will, with continued popular pres- It will be historic, and it’ll be cool to awareness. remember we really are all interde- have a number of friends who had sure, force a radical change towards be a part of it. pendent. It does come back to you, their homes destroyed by Sandy and a policy directed at preserving a liv- the good or bad you do today. are still dealing with it. Clearly the able world. I have a hope that there next generation will confront more of will be real momentum by the mere the negative consequences of global fact that there are more than 500 or- warming going forward. ganizations endorsing this march. Interviews by Shomial Ahmad Labor mobilizes for historic climate march By SHOMIAL AHMAD Things have come a long way since ing out to its members with flyers, Carbon pollution is the target the AFL-CIO Executive Council op- radio appearances, Instagram im- On September 21 thousands of peo- posed the 1997 Kyoto Protocol on re- ages and member videos online. ple will demonstrate in New York sor of landscape architecture who public attention on climate change. duction of greenhouse gases. Around To help its members take positive City, in what is billed as the larg- works on coastlines battered by “Katrina was a huge wake-up call, 70 labor organizations have endorsed action on the job, the union has es- est climate-change protest in world Sandy, will be one of the PSC mem- particularly the social inequalities the September march, though the tablished a “green super” program, history. Hundreds of PSC members bers at the march. that the storm revealed,” Seavitt AFL-CIO is not one of them. a training fund to educate building are expected to take part, demand- “We need to work hard to heal Nordenson said. The PSC is one of the en- superintendents on reducing their ing action to dramatically reduce our radically disrupted carbon cy- It’s not only specialists ‘Katrina dorsing unions, and PSC buildings’ climate impact. the carbon pollution that causes cle,” Seavitt Nordenson told Clari- working on environmental was a Solidarity Committee Co- global warming. on. “Though my work is coastal and issues who are getting that Chair Jim Perlstein is on GLOBAL CRISIS The People’s Climate March will terrain-based, the real root of the wake-up call. Sean Swee- huge the march’s mobilization IBEW Local 3, the electrical work- take place on the Sunday before a problem is in the air, in the damaged ney, who co-directs Cornell’s wake-up committee. ers’ union, is another endorser of the week-long United Nations Climate atmosphere of our planet.” Global Labor Institute, says “Most CUNY students march whose members are dealing Summit with government leaders many in the labor movement call.’ come from communities of with the issue on the job. Local 3 from around the world. The PSC ALARMING DATA view the September 21 march as a color, working-class communities, members work to retrofit buildings contingent will gather at 10:30 at Seavitt Nordenson’s work is “tipping point” for labor and global- and these are the communities that to reduce their climate impact and Central Park West and 64 Street. about responding to the effects of warming activism. are most threatened by climate work on installing green power in According to the UN website, the climate change, like rising sea lev- “As more scientific data comes change,” said Perlstein, who wants newer construction. Members of the Summit will aim to “mobilize po- els. She’s currently working on a out, the more alarming the pic- to make sure PSC participation in local recently refurbished a dilapi- litical will for an ambitious global multi-university coastal resiliency ture gets,” Sweeney told Clarion. the September march is not a one- dated Long Island motel to become agreement by 2015 that limits the project at Jamaica Bay, which seeks “Those that don’t follow the sci- shot effort. “For us, the march is the union’s solar-powered educa- world to a less than 2-degree Celsius to improve water quality and circu- ence, they follow the weather. an opportunity to kick off a longer- tional and cultural center. rise in global temperature.” But past lation, enhance the edge of the coast We’ve had Sandy and other ex- term environmental justice project Local 3’s Partha Banerjee, who global conferences have not led to and build salt marshes, measures treme weather events in the US and on CUNY campuses,” Perlstein said. teaches classes to members, hopes this kind of decisive action; with the that help decrease the intensity of around the world that are getting (For more information, email him at that a thousand of its members will pace of climate change accelerating, waves and aid in carbon sequestra- union members’ attention.” For ex- [email protected].) attend the march. “We believe in a march organizers say global protest tion, removing some carbon dioxide ample, subway workers who had to green energy and a futuristic jobs is needed to prevent a crisis from be- from the atmosphere. restore the system after Sandy now GREEN ENERGY TRAINING policy,” Banerjee told Clarion. “This coming a catastrophe. Seavitt Nordenson has seen how have a much deeper understand- SEIU 32BJ, whose 145,000 mem- is not really ‘our problem’ versus City College’s Catherine Seavitt recent extreme weather events and ing of the consequences of global bers include janitors, doormen and ‘their problem’ anymore. This is Nordenson, an associate profes- droughts that have focused more warming for NYC. building superintendents, is reach- everybody’s problem.” Clarion | September 2014 NEWS 5

1988, has attended several COCAL conferences and was on the local organizing committee for the 2014 session. Clarke told Clarion there was a “developing conversation” COCAL comes back to NYC over the course of this year’s con- ference, “drawing on the knowl- By SHOMIAL AHMAD author of Reclaiming the Ivory Tow- edge and experience of the people er: Organizing Adjuncts to Change in the room.” The Coalition of Contingent Aca- Adjuncts build a movement Higher Education, has seen the dis- Clarke said she was struck by the demic Labor (COCAL) came to New cussion at the conferences evolve, commonality of adjuncts’ experi- York City on August 4 for its bien- from what began as a much-needed ence across national lines: “There nial conference, which was held this space to vent about the adjunct ex- is a common theme that raising and year at John Jay College and hosted perience. “Now they can talk about transforming the circumstances of by the PSC. The meeting, COCAL’s strategy, and that’s huge for a group contingent faculty is the lynchpin to eleventh, drew more than 200 people like this that cuts across union lines pushing back against an agenda that from the US, Canada and Mexico. and public and private higher educa- would undermine both public and “The COCAL movement provides tion,” Berry told Clarion. private higher education,” Clarke the opportunity for diverse contingent told Clarion. “Hopefully full-time, faculty from three North American MEDIA CAPITAL tenured faculty who feel themselves countries to come together...to discuss “COCAL’s importance has grown threatened will recognize that this the challenges of our working condi- as the scandal of contingency within fight is their fight.” tions [and] the plight of higher educa- the academy started to become a Clarke, who attended the bar- tion,” said Maria Peluso, an adjunct media issue,” PSC Treasurer Mike gaining for equity workshop, said faculty member and union leader from Fabricant told Clarion. “Return- she had learned from the experi- Concordia University in Montreal. Pat Arnow ing to the media capital, NYC, at ence of other activists there, from PSC’s Vice President for Part-Time Panelists (l to r) Sylvain Marois, Maria Teresa Lechuga, Stanley Aronowitz, Cindy this particular moment was a very new organizing tactics to how to Personnel Marcia Newfield, who was Oliver and Maria Pelusa shared tri-national perspectives on organizing contin- smart strategic decision.” avoid unintended consequences in on COCAL’s local organizing com- gent academics in Canada, Mexico and the US. The conference was launched, at new contract language. mittee, told Clarion that organizers first informally, in 1996 during the Hunter College adjunct lecturer “wanted to break the frame” of tradi- organizing and were simultaneously tended the session and shared ideas Modern Language Association Yvonne Groseil attended tional academic conferences. translated. But this year’s meeting that had worked on their own cam- conference. In 2001, COCAL at- Rebranding COCAL for the first time “It was the format of presenta- allowed for more interactive discus- puses, from hosting a coffee hour to tendees made plans for the first adjuncts this year. Groseil said tion, presentation, presentation and sion in the smaller working groups. paid internships for undergraduates Campus Equity Week, now an the conference fostered then some discussion that we want- Jennifer Chancellor, a co-coordi- at an academic union. annual event, which draws at- as ‘pillars a sense of community, an ed to move away from.” Newfield nator of the CUNY Doctoral Student By the conference’s last day, the tention to contingent faculty of the important counter to the explained. “People get frustrated Council’s Adjunct Project, was on groups had developed some goals working conditions at colleges university.’ often-isolating experi- because there’s so much informa- the local COCAL organizing com- that they presented to the conference across the US and Canada. The ence of being adjunct day- tion to digest and not enough time mittee. She helped devise protocols as a whole. One group proposed de- 2009 COCAL conference saw the to-day, and that she was inspired by to learn from one another.” that would shape the discussions in velopment of a “democracy index,” formation of New Faculty Majority, organizing efforts at other colleges. the different groups. scoring colleges and universities on a membership-based group that has This fall, Groseil is helping plan INTEREST GROUPS “The goal of COCAL is not criteria like pay equity and shared taken up legislative issues. New Fac- an adjunct meeting on her campus So instead of just listening to pan- COCAL,” Chancellor told Clarion. governance. The media working ulty Majority has organized adjuncts on September 17 to share what hap- elists at one session and then mov- “It’s to create networks and con- group urged activists to “retire the to testify before Congress about the pened at COCAL, and this Spring ing to the next, conference attendees tinue the conversation that leads, image of ‘poor adjunct’ and rebrand effects of health care reform on con- she plans to organize a session mapped out strategies in one of five hopefully, toward action.” as ‘pillars of the university.’” Plenary tingent faculty, and has worked for where Hunter adjuncts present re- different “interest groups,” which In Chancellor’s group, participants participants backed a statement sup- federal legislation that would require search that they’re working on. met over the course of three days. talked about how to create coalitions porting a minimum adjunct salary of colleges to disclose their dependence “COCAL energized me,” Groseil There were still plenaries at the of undergraduates and adjunct fac- $7,000 per three-credit course, along on part-time and contingent faculty. told Clarion. “It made me want to conference, which brought together ulty working together on issues of with other job protections. Holly Clarke, an adjunct lecturer get out and think of something tri-national perspectives on adjunct mutual concern. About 20 people at- Joe Berry, a COCAL founder and who has taught at John Jay since creative.” HEO & CLT chapters build membership

By SHOMIAL AHMAD member, she points out, these con- people’s concerns and connect with Ready to sign a union card cerns can be raised at a chapter them. “Membership,” Bink tells her This summer, members of the PSC’s meeting. colleagues, “is going to help get your Higher Education Officer (HEO) ly assume that it is their member- nursing home. “Being a unionist Trudy Hilton also works in employment needs met.” Chapter and College Lab Techni- ship dues. can mean more than voting on a CUNY Central. “For most people,” CLT Chapter Chair Albert Sher- cian (CLT) Chapter reached out to Becoming a PSC member does not proposed contract,” she says today. she said, “the minute I say to them man says he met with CLTs at dif- colleagues who had not yet signed cost more, Rodriguez noted, and it “It’s about joining committees and that the contract is being negoti- ferent campuses to build the chapter, union cards, and invited them to allows you to vote in elections for getting involved.” That, she says, is ated – I’ll ask, ‘Do you want to vote and arranged a lot of one-on-one become PSC members. union office and on whether to ratify where a strong contract comes from. on it?’ – then they sign the card.” meetings. Because individualized Most CUNY faculty and staff a proposed contract settlement. “Most people are receptive” to Many of the more than two dozen outreach takes time, Sherman told signed cards soon after they were signing a union card, said Lucy Mc- people she’s approached asked why Clarion, progress in the membership hired and are thus PSC members UNION DEMOCRACY Intyre, who works in the University they weren’t automatically given a drive was “slow but very steady.” He – but others did not, often because “For people to have a voice in a Controller’s Office at CUNY Central. card when they were first hired, Hil- talks to CLTs about the breadth of they didn’t know that signing a card democratic process is really, really “Once they know they’re paying for ton said. When Hilton began work- union-provided benefits, directing is required. crucial to me,” Rodriguez told Clar- something anyway, it’s not hard to ing at CUNY Law School in July them to the PSC, Welfare Fund and Anselma Rodriguez was one of the ion. In the card-signing effort, she get them to sign a card. I don’t en- 2002, a card was given to her when CLT websites. HEO activists who took part in the says she told co-workers that by be- counter much resistance.” she started, but that’s not the case outreach campaign on the Brooklyn coming members, they increase rep- When she spoke with colleagues for all new hires. ADDRESSING CONCERNS College campus. Rodriguez says resentation of HEOs within the union about becoming a member, one of Cindy Bink, director of counseling Sherman said the membership many of her colleagues didn’t know and can have a louder voice in the most common questions at City Tech, has been reaching out push has been one step in building they were not union members. decisions about their work. ‘It’s about was when a new contract to other HEO-series employees on a relationship with the people they Non-members are required to Active participation in the getting will be finalized, McIntyre her campus. Bink and other chap- talked to, figuring out their issues pay an “agency fee,” equivalent to union is a family tradition for told Clarion. Once potential ter activists set up tables at HEO and concerns and talking with them union dues, to cover the union’s Rodriguez. Her mother, who involved.’ new members start talking, meetings and arranged one-on-one about how the union could address costs of representing all employees made handbags in a Brooklyn fac- she added, they start to voice things meetings with people who had never those concerns. in the bargaining unit (as required tory, was a shop steward for the they’d like to see in the contract, signed a card. Bink says she didn’t “Once they become members, by law). Non-members often see the Pocketbook and Novelty Workers such as tuition reimbursement for see the goal as “just recruiting mem- they become involved,” Sherman agency fee taken out of their check, Union, and her father was a union dependents, systems training and bers” – the outreach, she said, was said. “It’s an opening to a door that’s Rodriguez told Clarion, and wrong- member working in a Staten Island salary increases. Once you’re a also an opportunity to listen to other a new adventure.” 6 NEWS Clarion | September 2014 The ‘impossible’ adjunct health care fight By PETER HOGNESS Plan now on secure footing As of October 1, health coverage for adjuncts will be provided by CUNY, Coverage under the old adjunct do,” said Jenna Lucente, an adjunct through New York City’s Health health insurance program, from lecturer in art and design at City Benefits Program, as has long been the PSC-CUNY Welfare Fund, Tech. “It’s an acknowledgment that the case for full-time faculty and comes to an end after September adjuncts really are part of the staff staff. The change brings stability 30. Adjuncts who currently have and we therefore must be included to adjunct health insurance, ending health insurance must fill out in a stable system of benefits.” the threat to its survival that came enrollment forms for the new The long-running problem of in- to a head in 2011. plan and submit them to their adequate funding for adjunct health The shift to CUNY was the re- campus Human Resources of- insurance at CUNY had made the sult of a prolonged struggle which fice by September 19 in order to program financially unstable for the union has fought for 14 years. ensure continuous coverage when many years. Union proposals for a “Moving adjunct health insurance the new City plan takes effect Oc- more rational, sustainable system to the City plan is a triumph of per- tober 1. (See page 7 for details on had been repeatedly rebuffed by sistence,” said Marcia Newfield, the how to sign up.) management, leaving adjunct cov- PSC vice president for part-time Under the new program, health erage to be kept afloat through a personnel. “For 14 years, in the face insurance will be provided through variety of short-term measures. By of reactions of ‘improbable,’ ‘ impos- the NYC Health Benefits Program, 2011, however, the underfunding sible’ and ‘you must be dreaming,’ and prescription drug coverage will had become so severe that stopgap the PSC never gave up because of be provided – as it is for full-timers solutions would no longer work: in its commitment to justice. So many – through the PSC-CUNY Welfare July 2011 the Welfare Fund’s Trust- societal advances require this kind Fund. The PSC also won expanded ees announced that the current ad- of stubborn spirit and dedicated benefits for adjuncts eligible for junct coverage could not survive for work. We are fortunate to have built health insurance: they will now be more than another year. Unless a a union that can stand up to these entitled to individual optical, hear- more sustainable funding source or challenges.” ing and dental benefits through the an alternative form of coverage was Welfare Fund. put in place, the trustees concluded, THE WHOLE UNION A prime goal for the union – which the current plan would have to be “Everyone who had a hand in this the PSC achieved – was to keep eligi- replaced by a severely curtailed victory, which defies the current bility requirements unchanged. benefit. austerity agenda of reducing worker As in the past, health insurance The root of the problem went back Five hundred adjuncts and full-timers rallied together outside a CUNY trustees meeting in September 2011. benefits, can be proud,” PSC Presi- will be available only to those ad- to the creation of adjunct health dent Barbara Bowen said in a mes- juncts who consistently carry sub- coverage at CUNY in 1986. Before plan, and management again resist- letter to members. The defense of sage to covered adjuncts on August stantial workloads and who do not then, despite increasing reliance ed the idea. The contracts ratified adjunct health insurance, she said, 1. “The agreement is a landmark have access to other coverage. Terms on adjunct labor, CUNY had of- in 2006 and 2008 did include some was the union’s top priority for the in the PSC’s history of fighting for for family health insurance coverage fered its adjunct faculty no health increases in CUNY’s contributions coming year. equity for adjuncts,” Bowen wrote. remain similar to those under the insurance coverage of any kind. to the Welfare Fund, but these were Strategy and training sessions in “We took a collective, principled old insurance program provided That changed in 1986, when CUNY still inadequate. The deficit contin- August 2011 led to plans for a mass stand on equity, and at last we have through the Welfare Fund, with reached an agreement with the ued to grow. rally on September 26, 2011 at the succeeded.” individual participants able to buy PSC under its previous leadership In 2003, the basic premium cost Board of Trustees’ first meeting of “It took the whole union to win family coverage at full cost. in response to adjuncts’ demands. paid for by the Welfare Fund for each the new academic year. The goal of adjunct health insurance,” said But unlike the health insurance for covered adjunct was about $3,500, the campaign was straightforward: Steve London, PSC vice president CLOUD LIFTED full-timers, which is funded through while CUNY’s average payment maintaining comparable health in- and Welfare Fund executive officer “It’s great that the PSC has got- per-capita payments for each mem- per participant was about $2,600. surance for eligible adjuncts with and trustee. “For years, the Welfare ten this put in place,” said Linta ber enrolled, the health insurance By 2011, the average premium cost no lapse in coverage. Accomplish- Fund trustees insisted on maintain- Varghese, an adjunct assistant for adjuncts was funded with an an- had risen to $8,100. But CUNY’s av- ing that would require securing ing a quality, free health insurance professor of Asian American stud- nual lump sum. erage payment per participant had alternative funding and finding a plan for adjuncts, even as CUNY ies at Hunter College. “It’s been dropped to $1,700, a consequence of structural solution to the chronic representatives attempted to charge stressful not knowing what would GROWING GAP more and more adjuncts coming into cost gap, such as including CUNY adjuncts and provide a lesser bene- happen. I’m relieved that the health CUNY’s lump-sum payments the system while CUNY stuck with adjuncts in the City or State Health fit. The entire bargaining unit, full- insurance is on a permanent footing soon began to fall short of the actual flat-rate payments. The roughly $900 Benefits Program. and part-timers, devoted millions of now.” With half of CUNY’s classes cost that the Welfare Fund incurred per-person gap in 2003 had grown to dollars from a contract settlement taught by adjunct faculty, Varghese in purchasing insurance coverage $6,400 per person by 2011. SUPPORT to the Welfare Fund to stabilize its and others said, the survival of the for eligible adjuncts. As the num- When the Welfare Fund trust- The immediate goal was to press finances as all its costs rose and program never should have been in ber of adjuncts employed by CUNY ees announced at the end of July CUNY to include the funds required the unfunded cost of adjunct health question. But even if the change was grew sharply and costs of health 2011 that the current system could for such a transition in its budget re- insurance soared. This gave us the long overdue, it was still welcomed insurance escalated, the gap grew not survive for more than another quest for the upcoming fiscal year. time to work out a permanent solu- with enthusiasm. wider and wider, and the resulting year, the union’s response was im- Union leaders had concluded that in tion. I am proud of our union for its “Being a part of the City Health deficit ate into the Welfare Fund’s mediate. “The Professional Staff order for the funds to be approved consistent united action to maintain Benefits Program, like the full-time reserves. Congress is prepared to use every by the legislature, they had to be in- adjunct health insurance and make faculty, feels like we’re finally being When the current PSC leadership resource at our disposal to maintain cluded as a regular part of CUNY’s it permanent.” acknowledged for the work that we took office in 2000, it plunged into adjunct health insurance – and we budget, just as funds for full-timers’ contract negotiations with CUNY. believe we can win this fight,” Presi- health insurance are. WE OWE THIS VICTORY to the persistence of the union. I am A priority demand for the PSC was dent Bowen wrote in an August 16 The run-up to September 26 saw a transplant patient, and need medication to stay alive. I also to change the system for adjunct needed surgery this June, and I was terrified when I learned health insurance. CUNY adjuncts FOUR YEARS AGO when our health insurance was in danger, it should be covered the same way oth- that adjunct medical was extended just through June 30 – er part-time municipal workers are was very, very upsetting to me. I did a lot of price shopping, and beyond that was uncertain. Thankfully, we were able to finally covered, the union said: through the at the time I think the minimum for outside coverage was $800 ensure that adjuncts get access to medical care without NYC Health Benefits Program. But a month. I panicked. But it’s now permanent. You don’t have to management rebuffed this proposal, fear of losing it in the future. I feel very strongly that it’s agreeing only to a small increase in worry, and that’s an amazing feeling. I’m proud to have been something we should have had permanently and now we do. its annual flat-rate contribution. part of the campaign to keep adjunct health insurance. In subsequent rounds of contract Renee Mizrahi bargaining, the PSC again pro- Bonnie Lucas Adjunct Lecturer, English posed that adjunct health insurance Adjunct Lecturer, Art Education Program Kingsborough Community College should be provided through the City City College Clarion | September 2014 NEWS 7 Must sign up for new plan The ‘impossible’ adjunct health care fight by Sept. 19 and presented the trustees with the tions over a thousand details. Even more than one million employees, signed petitions. When the union though CUNY had followed through retirees and their families. As such, The old adjunct health insurance delegation came back outside, they on the joint effort to secure funding, it can realize economies of scale and program, which was offered through had good news: Chancellor Goldstein these talks were not always smooth exert far greater bargaining power the PSC-CUNY Welfare Fund, will had announced that CUNY would and the bargaining was prolonged. over costs than a small plan like the end on September 30. To be covered propose the necessary funds in its The PSC held a question-and-an- 1,900-member health insurance the under the new City plan, which takes upcoming State budget request. swer session for covered adjuncts PSC-CUNY Welfare Fund admin- effect October 1, you must submit “It’s the first time CUNY has ever at its Union Hall in August 2012. istered for CUNY adjuncts. A plan completed enrollment forms to CUNY moved on our demand on adjunct While those attending appreciated based on per-capita funding was by September 19. If you do not submit health care,” PSC President Barbara the chance to learn more about the also more rational, stable and sus- enrollment forms, you may not have Bowen told the hundreds who ral- state of the talks, union negotiators tainable to manage the finances of continuous coverage. lied outside. But Bowen cautioned could not answer their most press- health care for the adjunct faculty on The forms to enroll in the new that convincing CUNY to include ing question: when will there be a whom CUNY students depend. But plan are included in CUNY’s Ad- adjunct health insurance in its bud- final agreement? none of these arguments swayed the junct Health Insurance Enrollment get request was only a start: “The Existing adjunct health insurance Bloomberg administration. Packet, available from your campus next step is to hold them to that coverage was extended twice in Sep- The impact on CUNY adjuncts human resources office or online priority, to insist that it’s funded by tember and October as the talks en- was severe. As talks with Bloom- at tinyurl.com/AHI-Forms. Form the State.” tered their final stages. The funding berg’s representatives became #1 enrolls you in the NYC Health The union kept up the pressure in CUNY’s new budget made this drawn out, a series of short-term Benefits Program, for basic insur- in November, when dozens of mem- possible, but both sides knew that extensions of existing coverage ance coverage. Form #2 enrolls you bers testified on adjunct health care this was not a long-term solution. occurred, with each expiration in PSC-CUNY Welfare Fund cover- at a public hearing of the Board of Transition to City coverage was es- date becoming a focus for adjunct age for prescription drugs, as well Trustees. “As an adjunct professor sential to the program’s future. anxiety. When it became clear that as the individual optical, hearing who had thyroid cancer three years CUNY and PSC reached agree- discussions with the Bloomberg ad- and dental benefits newly available ago, and is still in need of regular to covered adjuncts as a result of medical check-ups, health insur- this transition. ance is crucial for me,” Alexandra Story, an adjunct lecturer at BMCC, ENROLL NOW told the trustees. “On the wages I Form #3 is required if you select make as an adjunct, I am just able to an option that has an additional barely get by as a single mother of cost, such as family coverage or an two boys, ages 5 and 8. The loss of my optional rider. This form authorizes Five hundred adjuncts and full-timers rallied together outside a CUNY trustees meeting in September 2011. health insurance would be crippling direct monthly payments from your to me.” It’s a matter of simple justice, bank account to cover the cost. an outpouring of support for the she emphasized: “We put in the same Form #4 is part of your overall en- demand. More than 2,600 faculty work for each course as the full-time rollment in the new plan. All forms and staff signed a petition demand- professors. We deserve to have our should be submitted to your campus ing that CUNY ensure that adjunct health needs treated equally.” Benefits Officer as soon as possible, health insurance would continue, and no later than September 19. while close to 5,000 emails were POLITICAL PRESSURE Further information and ad- sent to then-Chancellor Goldstein As the new year began, and with it ditional forms (for example, for and the CUNY Board of Trustees. the annual budget battle in Albany, coverage of dependents up to age Adjuncts spoke out about how vital PSC members met with more than 29) are available on the website of health insurance was to them, and 100 State legislators in a grassroots CUNY’s University Benefits Office how their lives would be affected if lobbying effort, pressing them to Kim Ferguson, college benefits officer at CCNY (left), talks with Adjunct Lecturer (UBO). Go to cuny.edu/benefits, se- their coverage was curtailed. support CUNY’s budget request. Annette Swierzbinski about how to enroll in the new City plan. (See sidebar at right.) lect “Benefits at a Glance,” and then On September 26, 500 PSC mem- Members and union leaders testified select “Adjunct Staff (Teaching and bers turned out for a militant demon- at Albany budget hearings, and thou- ment on details of that transition in ministration were going nowhere, Non-Teaching).” stration outside the trustees’ meeting sands of letters were sent to State October, and those who had protest- the Welfare Fund trustees adopted at Baruch College. Part-timers and Senators and Assemblymembers. ed outside the trustees’ meeting the a 14-month extension for the cur- CONCERNS? full-timers were both well repre- When the State budget was final- year before felt ready to celebrate. rent coverage, through June 30 of If you have questions, call sented. “It boils down to the issue of ized on March 30, 2012, the funds While the process had not been this year. CUNY’s dedicated adjunct health fairness,” Yunzhong Shu, an associ- required for a transition to a more easy, the two sides had stuck with When Mayor Bill de Blasio took insurance helpline at 646-664-3401. ate professor of Chinese at Queens stable system for adjunct health cov- it and reached a solid agreement. office January 1, he faced a backlog You can also email your questions College, told Clarion. “Half of our erage were included in CUNY’s bud- But the final stage of the process, of more than 150 expired contracts or concerns to UniversityBenefit- courses are taught by adjuncts.” get allocation. The full-court press securing City approval, unexpect- and other unresolved labor agree - [email protected], or ask your “‘Let them die’ is not an appropri- since September had had its effect. edly became a stubborn obstacle. ments. The issue of adjunct health campus benefits officer. CUNY First ate stance for CUNY’s upper-level ad- But the struggle was not over. “After years of refusing our de - insurance at CUNY was on that list, Employee ID and both CUNY and ministration to take in regard to half The next stage was negotiations mand, CUNY’s administration be- but the largest City unions, like the personal email addresses should be of its faculty,” declared Jane Weiss, with CUNY management over the came an unwavering ally in talks United Federation of Teachers or listed on all paperwork. an assistant professor of English at transition to a more sustainable with the City,” Bowen told Clarion. District Council 37, were City Hall’s An overview of the changes is KCC who had worked for 16 years as health insurance program. The “CUNY’s support was essential to first concern. also on the Welfare Fund website an adjunct at Hunter College. union’s goal was simple: continua- our eventual success.” Continued to page 8 (psccunywf.org). Inside the meeting, PSC activists tion of comparable health insurance The joint union-management sang union songs (“Health care is a with no break in coverage. But mak- agreement at CUNY was put to human right, we shall not be moved!”) ing that happen required negotia- the test when it collided with the I WOULDN’T HAVE A STRONG PROGRAM without outstanding Bloomberg administration’s deci- adjunct faculty in school counseling. Too often CUNY adjunct WHEN THE NEWS BROKE that it was a done deal, I was at a sion to put its labor relations in the faculty don’t have full-time jobs and cobble together 3 or 4 deep freeze. By 2013, every single party with other faculty. The mood in the room was ecstatic. The municipal union was working un- classes at different campuses, constantly on the run; it’s beyond news came on someone’s device, and when it was announced, der an expired contract, the first critical to have secure health insurance. Since almost half of there was a loud cheer and a round of drinks to the PSC. There time in NYC history that this had CUNY instruction is done by contingent faculty, the least we can occurred. With the City demanding really was a sense of what we’d just accomplished. Both part- deep concessions from the unions on do is ensure their health care is maintained as they often have timers and full-timers realized that we’d done something big. their health care coverage, while of- few other resources in the country’s most expensive metro area. fering little or nothing in return, the Stuart Chen-Hayes Michael Batson mayor’s advisors refused to act. Adjunct Lecturer, History & Women’s Studies The NYC Health Benefits Pro- Associate Professor, School Counseling College of Staten Island gram is a massive plan, covering Lehman College, School of Education 8 YOUR BENEFITS Clarion | September 2014 Pension choice for new full-timers By ELLEN BALLEISEN days; vesting is immediate for those If you are have prior CUNY ad- Former PSC Pension Counselor who come to CUNY with an open- junct service and are hired on a & JARED HERST Must decide in first 30 days vested TIAA-CREF retirement ac- full-time substitute line, the deci- PSC Coordinator of Pension & Health Benefits count from a previous employer. sion is more complex. Details are discussed at tinyurl.com/Adj-Sub- Pensions probably don’t top the list RETIREMENT ISSUES Pension-Choice; note that there are of concerns for most newly hired If you have been newly hired at exceptions. Consulting a pension CUNY faculty and staff. Yet within CUNY and choose TRS, you will counselor is thus especially impor- 30 days of their start date, new full- become eligible to retire with an tant for former adjuncts who are time CUNY employees must choose unreduced pension benefit once you hired on a full-time substitute line. between two radically different are vested and at least 63 years old. pension plans. The decision is irre- Under current rules, those vested PORTABILITY vocable, and making a wise choice in TRS who are between 55 and 62 ORP participants in TIAA-CREF requires careful consideration of can retire with an immediate, lower can maintain or even possibly merge several factors. pension benefit, reduced by 6.5% per their TIAA-CREF accounts if they Your basic choice is between a year for each year younger than 63. leave CUNY for another employer defined-benefit plan and a defined- All TRS participants who are re- that provides TIAA-CREF pensions. contribution plan. CUNY’s defined- ceiving a pension and who have at This is all subject to the CUNY benefit plan is provided by the New least 10 years of service credit will TIAA-CREF ORP Plan Rules. TRS York City Teachers’ Retirement retain their City of New York health pensions can be transferred to other System (TRS), a municipal govern- insurance and the benefits provided New York City and State retirement ment agency. The defined-contribu- through the PSC-CUNY Welfare systems, but cannot be transferred tion plan is known as the Optional Fund upon retirement. to private or out-of-state employers. Retirement Program (ORP), which ORP participants may retire at includes TIAA-CREF and two alter- any age, but can only maintain their LEAVING MONEY TO YOUR FAMILY native investment vehicles, MetLife health benefits if they have 15 years ORP participants can leave the and Guardian. of continuous service at CUNY. In entire balance of their accounts to Below is some information to help addition, these health benefits take their families after they die. TRS new full-timers make the decision. effect only when the retiree is 62 or participants can designate one Pension rules for newly hired fac- older. Since September 2005, if you beneficiary who will receive a life - ulty and staff at CUNY are based are a health-benefits-eligible re- time pension payout after they die. on New York State’s Tier VI pen- tiree in the ORP, you are required There are other retirement income sion legislation, which covers those to maintain $50,000 in reserve with options available to the beneficia- newly hired on or after April 1, 2012. Ken Orvidas TIAA-CREF, in order to pay for re- ries of members in the ORP and stock, bond, fixed-rate and real tions. If deductions are not occur- tiree health insurance premiums. TRS. Please consult the retirement TRS: THE BASICS estate funds managed by TIAA- ring after you choose a plan, check Additional reserve amounts may system you are affiliated with for The NYC Teachers’ Retirement CREF. The Optional Retirement with your payroll office. be required depending on the health more details. System guarantees retirees a fixed Program may also include invest- plan you select, or to cover future monthly pension payment for life, ments in the alternate funding vehi- VESTING insurance rate increases. MAKING THE CHOICE with small periodic cost-of-living ad- cles, The Guardian and MetLife. A When you are vested, you be- So, which plan is best for you? justments. There are no fluctuations retirement account may be invested come eligible to receive a retire- PRIOR SERVICE Age is one key factor in the deci- based on investment returns. Retire- in several different funds, and em- ment allowance when you reach TRS participants can get pension sion. Older employees may give ment allowances are calculated using ployees may periodically change retirement age. TRS participants credit for any work done for the greater weight to the fact that TRS formulas that are based on years of their allocations among different are vested once they have 10 years City or State before they became participants can keep their health service and highest annual earnings. accounts. of TRS credited service. If full-time CUNY employees. ORP insurance in retirement after just 10 A TRS pension is funded by both An ORP pension is Making a wise TRS participants leave CU- participants do not have this option. years on the job. employee and employer contribu- funded by the amount choice requires NY employment before they If you worked previously as a Prior work history is another fac- tions, but the employer contribution of money in the indi- are vested, they don’t lose CUNY adjunct and already have sig- tor. A new full-timer with many years is much larger. An employee partici- vidual employee’s ac- careful their employee contribu- nificant pension credit under TRS, of adjunct service or other work for pating in TRS does not see CUNY’s count. There is no way consideration. tions: participants in quali- then TRS will probably be your best a New York City or State agency can contribution in a separate account to predict how much the fied pension plans like TRS choice – but speak to a pension coun- get TRS pension credit for this work. in his or her own name. Instead, account will be worth at retirement earn 5% annual interest on these selor to be sure. If you worked as a A new full-timer who already has an CUNY makes regular lump-sum because the value of an employee’s monies while they are waiting to CUNY adjunct but were not previ- open-vested TIAA-CREF retirement payments to TRS as a whole, based investments changes constantly. vest. If you leave CUNY before ously a TRS member, you can pay to account from another institution can on actuarial calculations made For new participants in TIAA- you are vested, you will take these “buy back” pension credit in TRS for vest immediately. about all CUNY employees with CREF and the other ORP plans, funds with you. your prior years of adjunct service. Contact the PSC (at 212-354-1252) TRS pensions in active service. CUNY contributes 8% of gross pay ORP participants are vested after Again, consult a pension counselor if you would like to discuss your during the first seven years that an they have worked at CUNY for 366 about your options. decision with a pension counselor. ORP: THE BASICS employee is at the University; from In the Optional Retirement Pro- the eighth year on, the employer con- gram, there is a retirement account tribution is increased to 10% for the in the employee’s name that is fund- remainder of the employee’s service. never lost sight of the human needs told members in August. “Those ed by both employer and employee Adjunct health of adjuncts.” goals remain for future campaigns.” contributions. EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS Continued from page 7 Though it is a major step toward (In current bargaining, for example, The employee decides how mon- The required employee contribu- After one last extension to Sep- equity, the change does not give eli- the union’s demand on adjunct job ey in this retirement account is in- tions are the same for both TRS and tember 30, and with the critical sup- gible adjuncts full equality in health security could help protect long- vested. Investment choices include the ORP plans. Employee contribu- port of the new mayor, agreement coverage with full-time CUNY em- serving adjuncts from sudden loss tions are calculated as a percentage was finally reached at the end of Ju- ployees. Family coverage remains of their health insurance.) of regular compensation on a feder- ly. “This is the hardest negotiation more expensive, as eligible adjuncts “For now,” Bowen concluded, “we ally tax-deferred basis, with the rate the PSC has had in the 14 years that must still pay the full additional can celebrate what we have won to- Alert new full- dependent on an employee’s salary. I have been in leadership,” Bowen cost for covered family members. gether, and support each other in For all new full-time hires at CUNY, told Clarion. “It shouldn’t have been And while the existence of adjunct the union’s upcoming campaign for time colleagues those rates are as follows: so hard. We worked with CUNY to health insurance is now assured, a fair contract for all.” $45,000 or less 3.00% find the funding, CUNY manage- individual adjuncts can still unex- While it does not end the need Newly hired full-time faculty and More than $45,000 to $55,000 3.50% ment became a strong partner in the pectedly lose coverage if they have to struggle, the agreement to move staff must make a final choice of More than $55,000 to $75,000 4.50% effort, and it makes sense to avail of a course cancelled at the last minute adjunct health coverage to the City pension plan during their first More than $75,000 to $100,000 5.75% the economy of scale. Besides that, – even if they have worked at CUNY Health Benefits Program stands 30 days on payroll. But new hires More than $100,000 6.00% it was the right thing to do.” for 20 years. as one of the union’s biggest victo- do not receive Clarion until after “The Welfare Fund staff and “Ideally, we would like to have ries, said the PSC’s Steve London: their first few pay periods – so These gross salary deductions trustees have been heroic,” Bowen won even more – family coverage, “Working together, union members please show this article to your occur from an employee’s paycheck added. “The trustees protected the a shorter waiting period to qualify, achieved a result we had often been new colleagues right away! through automatic payroll deduc- financial solvency of the Fund, but coverage into retirement,” Bowen told was impossible.” Clarion | September 2014 OPINION & NEWS 9

ORGANIZING CLIP & CUNY Start teachers unite By A. PRATO Queensborough CC. “Thank you to the PSC Many CLIP and Start teachers would love nizing is necessary, and every CLIP or Start Queensborough Community College for helping us achieve that benefit.” to pursue a doctorate and develop profes- instructor is encouraged to join our efforts. “When CLIP first started in 1995, we sionally. At SUNY-Binghamton, ESL lectur- We are not the largest group of employees hat’s been happening to the didn’t even have a functioning copy machine ers are entitled to tuition waivers at their at CUNY, and in order to win improvements higher education workforce in the office, and we were not allowed to school. This is the norm for ESL teachers at we need to understand that our issues are during the last couple decades join the Teachers’ Retirement System,” colleges across the nation, from SUNY-Buf- part of a larger fight. As we push for recogni- Wshould give all of us pause,” recalls Schickerling-Georgia. Over the past falo to Portland State – but not for teachers tion of the fact that we work for CUNY full- Rep. George Miller (D-CA) said in January. 20 years, in addition to sick days and par- in CLIP and CUNY Start. time, we need to support part-time faculty in “The number of part-time contingent faculty ticipation in the retirement system, CLIP In addition to higher pay and tuition waiv- their ongoing fight for equity. Their problems at institutions of higher education has been instructors have organized through the PSC ers, CLIP and Start instructors are request- and ours both result from CUNY’s drive to rising rapidly, with more than one million for health insurance, salary steps, and par- ing annualized salaries, summer health pay less and reduce benefits, to the detriment people now working as adjunct faculty, pro- ticipation in the Adjunct-CET Professional care, and job security. of both faculty and the students we teach. viding a cheap source of labor even while Development Fund. As Stanley Aronowitz, distinguished pro- tuition is skyrocketing.” But more needs to be done. CUNY Start MAKING CONNECTIONS fessor of sociology at the Graduate Center, This drive to cut labor costs at all costs is was created after the last contract was To accomplish these contractual goals, said at this year’s meeting of the Coalition evident throughout the City University of signed, and its teachers do not receive many CLIP and CUNY Start instructors have On Contingent Academic Labor (see page 5), New York system – and the area of remedial of the benefits that CLIP faculty were finally formed the CLIP-Start Alliance, which “PSC members have to recognize that the instruction is no exception. able to gain. has met regularly at PSC headquarters tendency in CUNY is to substitute adjuncts For faculty in both programs, a higher since November 2013 to develop a strategy and part-timers for full-time employees, and SKILLS GAP starting salary is a priority. “I am compen- they hope will yield positive results at the we have to work to radically change that The CUNY Language Immersion Pro- sated for 30 hours of work weekly,” said bargaining table. In May, PSC President situation.” gram (CLIP), created in 1995, and CUNY Radha Radkar of LaGuardia’s CUNY Start Barbara Bowen met with over 100 CLIP and The efforts being made by the CLIP-Start Start, created in 2010, have become promi- program. “But this does not include the Start teachers and pledged to fight for their Alliance are one example of what needs to nent parts of remedial instruction at CUNY. time I spend outside the office grading, les- full-time status in the new contract. Union be done, and hopefully a sign of what is to Teachers in these programs do work that is son-planning, as well as collaborating with organizing efforts have continued through come, if faculty are to stand a chance against central to CUNY’s mission, and spend more teachers and advisers in team meetings, all the summer. In order to attain much-de- CUNY’s austerity measures in the future. time in class each week than many faculty of which are essential to student success.” served rights and benefits, continuous orga- who are classed as full-time. Yet we are clas- Mr. Prato is entering his fifth year as a CUNY sified as part-time, contingent or adjunct by Language Immersion Program Instructor at CUNY Central, in order to pay us less and ‘Our issues are part of a larger fight.’ Queensborough Community College. deny us the benefits we deserve. Through the PSC, faculty in both programs are orga- nizing for basic improvements, and fighting to achieve a better contract for all. Throughout New York City, there is often a gap between the skills required to graduate from high school and those required to begin A teacher, an advocate, a uniter college. In fact, most incoming CUNY fresh- men without Regents diplomas fail at least By SHOMIAL AHMAD one of the three assessment tests in reading, Remembering a PSC retiree leader writing, or math. Remedial instruction, in Larry Kaplan built up institutions. Whether all its forms, is thus a central part of CUNY’s it was the economics department at John Jay, After earning his doctorate in economics mission. I have taught in the CLIP program the PSC Retirees Chapter or a lobbying group from Columbia University, Kaplan worked for for several years, and I know that CLIP for municipal retirees, he approached his task the federal government and then for the City teachers believe strongly in the work we do. with poise, commitment and persistence. He of New York. “I have former students from ten years died on August 5 at the age of 98. When John Jay college opened in 1965, he ago, some of them now in master’s programs, Jack Judd, a former PSC Retirees chapter was invited to be a founding member of its others working full-time after having com- chair, first met Kaplan in 1967, when the two economics department. He worked at CUNY pleted their BAs, who come back to visit me attended leadership meetings of the Leg- for the next 30 years. to express their gratitude for CLIP,” says islative Conference, a predecessor of the ‘He just Upon retiring in 1986, Kaplan joined Iris Schickerling-Georgia, a CLIP teacher at PSC. Judd recalls Kaplan being especial- kept on the PSC Retirees Chapter. During BMCC for more than a decade. “I love when ly interested in disability insurance and his 15 years in leadership positions, this happens and, like other CLIP teachers, life insurance. This focus on bread-and- working he reinvigorated a quiet chapter. He I love my job. Our program is so important butter issues continued throughout his at it.’ brought outside speakers to give pre- to the functioning of CUNY.” CLIP teachers work as an activist. Kaplan’s approach sentations at meetings and started are proud to note that last May, the valedic- of bringing people together for a common and edited a newsletter that featured infor - torians of both York and Hostos Community cause helped advance issues he was passion- mative articles on retiree benefits. He was Colleges were former CLIP students. ate about. also active in the PSC-CUNY Welfare Fund, “Larry never had an ill word to say about serving as secretary and vice chair of the DENIED BENEFITS anybody, no matter how much he may have fund’s trustees. Despite teaching 25 hours per week (in- been in disagreement with that person,” Judd In 1995, Kaplan wanted to unite retirees cluding summers), CLIP and Start teachers told Clarion. “He was always a gentlemen.” from municipal labor groups. “I realized are deemed “part-timers” by CUNY Central. that small groups cannot accomplish what This is a bureaucratic fiction, but the motive CREATING STRUCTURE a united organization can achieve,” Kaplan is clear: to deny us the rights and benefits as- Kaplan grew up in Brooklyn where he at - wrote in a reflection on his work. He went on sociated with traditional college teaching – job tended high school in Coney Island. He re- to convene a meeting with several municipal security, a grievance process, sabbaticals, ceived his bachelor’s degree in economics labor unions, and that led to the founding of full-time health care, tuition waivers, tenure, from Brooklyn College and his master’s in the Council of Municipal Retiree Organiza- annual leave, etc. And the starting salary economics from Columbia University. tions (COMRO), an organization that now ad- Photo courtesy of Jeanne Leon for a CLIP or Start instructor, less than $40 He fought in World War II from December vocates for more than a quarter million New Larry Kaplan helped found the economics de- per hour, leaves many of these professionals 1942 to November 1945, serving in Army in- York City municipal retirees. partment at John Jay when the college first working second and third jobs just to survive. telligence. He was with US troops in Battle opened in 1965. In response, a small but vigorous group of the Bulge, the deadliest World War II op- DETERMINED & FOCUSED of CLIP (and now Start) teachers have orga- eration for Americans. In 1945, Kaplan was Irwin Yellowitz, who served as Retiree going to get it,” Yellowitz told Clarion. “He nized to demand a more equal place at the part of Allied forces that helped liberate the Chapter chair after Kaplan, recalls City Hall was very focused. He wasn’t someone going CUNY table. They have had an impact. concentration camp at Buchenwald. Later demonstrations over cuts to Medicare Plan B. off in five different directions.” “Before 2000, if you got sick and you took in life, he was a member of many Jewish After the COMRO protests, the program was Kaplan is survived by his wife, Jeanne a day off to go to the doctor and feel better, and veterans organizations, and pushed fully restored. Leon, to whom he was married for 68 years, you never got paid,” said Monica Sweeney for building a World War II memorial in “When he had an idea in mind, he just kept and his three children: Harriet Trackman, de Gonzalez, a longtime CLIP teacher at Manhasset, where he lived. on working at it until it was clear that he was Sandford S. Kaplan and Marcia Pavone. 10 OPINION Clarion | September 2014

‘BLACK LIVES MATTER’ From Ferguson to Detroit By BRIDGETT DAVIS express your anger and your grief, to police largely black communities – a real- Baruch College you put your freedom – and maybe ity on ugly display during Ferguson’s street your life – at risk. The freedom of protests. Yet Detroit’s 688,000 residents have n this summer of protest, African speech that the Supreme Court has received no Federal aid to avert or recover Americans have taken to the streets guaranteed to corporations and the from its historic bankruptcy filing. As one with a simple but ambitious demand: wealthy was not extended to them. man on Twitter, who identifies as @Young- “Treat us like human beings.” Ferguson’s black residents live in Melanin95, tweeted: “They have the money In Ferguson, Missouri, marchers fear of the police in part because the to bring military-grade weapons to a civil- heldI placards that reprised the 1960s slogan, police force has 50 white officers and ian protest, but not enough money to give “I AM a MAN” (now with the addition of “I three black ones, patrolling a com- Detroit access to clean water.” AM a WOMAN”). In this town where police munity where 67% of the residents fired ten shots at an unarmed 18-year-old are black. Not surprisingly, blacks ATTACKS ON UNIONS Michael Brown and struck him six times, make up 86% of police stops, accord- The attacks on unions in Detroit, public apparently while his hands were up, a home- ing to a racial profiling report from and private, have attacked the ability of black made sign said, “Don’t shoot! Black men are Missouri’s attorney general. workers to maintain a middle-class income. people, too!” Others carried signs insisting These inequalities highlight the When I grew up in Detroit in the 1960’s and that “Black life matters.” fact that the Mike Brown or Eric 1970s, the UAW was still a vigorous union On Staten Island, those protesting the Garner killings aren’t just caused by whose strength insured robust wages and chokehold killing of Eric Garner by a white the individual bigotry or hot temper benefits for its members. As a result, my City cop voiced the same theme. “The rea- of one “bad apple” cop. They reflect father and cousins and uncles made sala- son I’m marching is because it’s time for structural inequities that run deep ries that enabled them to live well – to own people of color to be recognized as human throughout US society and history. homes, support their families, send their chil- beings,” 63-year-old Shirley Evans told the Four miles south of Ferguson is the dren to college, retire without worry. Conces- Daily News. “For years and years, we’ve burial place of Dred Scott, the slave sions demanded of the autoworkers’ union been fighting for our rights. It’s time we’re who in 1857 sued for his freedom and disproportionately hurt Detroit’s black resi- seen as equals.” lost. He lies in Calvary Cemetery on dents, and more recent attacks on the wages West Florissant Avenue – the same and pensions of public workers have their BASIC RIGHTS street that, in Ferguson, has been the own racial edge. Nationally, black workers A human being has the right to not be center of protests since Mike Brown are 30% more likely to hold public-sector jobs. gunned down by the police for “blocking was killed. In rejecting Scott’s claim In majority-black Detroit, the figure is much traffic,” and then be left in the rotting sun to freedom, the US Supreme Court’s higher. This year Detroit teachers faced a for four hours. A human being has the right Chief Justice wrote, “A free negro of 10% pay cut until public outcry prompted its

to not be choked to death for “resisting ar- the African race, whose ancestors Wiley Price emergency manager to reverse course days rest” for allegedly selling loose cigarettes – were brought to this country and sold Protestors in Ferguson, Missouri held posters with the before the start of the school year. despite repeated pleas that he can’t breathe. as slaves, is not a ‘citizen’ within the 1960s slogan, ‘I AM A MAN.’ And so the basic rights of more than ten But other basic rights are also required meaning of the Constitution of the million underprivileged African Americans to sustain human life – like access to water. United States.” Lest we forget, African Amer- chael Brown graduated from had only two are undermined by the limited resources When Detroit’s Dept. of Water and Sewage icans’ slave ancestors were described in the cap-and-gowns sets for its graduates, who allocated to them: those deemed worthy systematically shut off the water of more US Constitution as “three-fifths” of a person. had to take turns wearing them to pose for by a racist society receive the most, those than 125,000 of its poorest residents – some One hundred fifty-seven years after Dred graduation pictures. deemed unworthy receive the least – and of whom owed as little as $150 on their bills – Scott lost his case, and 156 years after his Detroit has been subject to public disin- have the most exacted from them. the UN found that the shutoffs were a basic death, the bruising effects of the country’s vestment for decades. The water shutoff this That is the backdrop against which, this violation of human rights. racist history are evident throughout the summer was the culmination of decades summer, water was withheld in one place, “These are my fellow human beings,” structures of American society. That his- of statewide cuts in public spending, a a life gunned down in the other. No wonder Detroiter Renla Session told the Detroit tory has shaped institutions that deprive consequence of anti-tax politics that were that out of frustration and necessity, people News. “If they threatened to cut off water to black Americans of the political power to significantly fueled by racial animus. From in both Detroit and Ferguson – and in soli- an animal shelter, you would see thousands shape their future, or the resources they Reagan’s fables about “welfare queens” and darity protests across the country – have of people out here. It’s senseless....They just need to do so. Cadillacs to Lee Atwater’s infamous “Wil- taken to the streets to demand that their treat people like their lives mean nothing lie Horton” ad, white resentments and fear humanity be recognized. here in Detroit, and I’m tired of it.” WHITE POWER STRUCTURE have been used for decades to consolidate Denial of common humanity has always Meanwhile, Detroit businesses still had ac- Ferguson and Detroit are both places a policy of shrinking the public budget. As been fundamental to white supremacy, cess to clean water, despite the fact that 55% where a largely black community is run was dramatically clear when Katrina hit throughout history. We can draw a direct of those businesses have past-due water bills by a white power structure. In Detroit, Re- New Orleans, it’s a policy that hurts African line from the anti-slavery slogan, “Am I Not The corporate debtors included the Chrysler publican Governor Rick Snyder appointed Americans the most, even as it injures the A Man And A Brother?” in the 19th century Group, real estate firms and a golf-course Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr to replace public as a whole. to this summer’s protests (“I AM a Man”) to management company that owed nearly half elected officials; a new white mayor, Mike As Missouri’s public budget shrinks, see the pattern. a million dollars. All were exempted when Duggan, now runs the city with an emphasis the black majority in Ferguson has been the shut-offs began. This is in keeping with on what sociologist Thomas Sugrue calls obliged to pay for its own oppression. News- UNSEEN VIOLENCE Mitt Romney’s famous comment – in an echo “trickle-down urbanism”, a focus on selec- week has reported that despite Ferguson’s A life can be taken by the fast, brutal vio- of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United rul- tive gentrification that excludes jobs for relative poverty, the town’s second-largest lence of a police bullet or a chokehold. But ing – that “corporations are people.” But ap- working-class residents. revenue source is fines and court fees. Its there is also the slower violence that can parently not all people are people. In Ferguson, the police chief is white, court issued 24,532 warrants last year, or kill you just as dead, more gradually and in The denial of black humanity takes many the mayor is white, and five of the six city about three warrants per household. Es- pieces – through poor health care, unem- forms. A police officer in a nearby town de- council members are white. Moreover, the sentially, the town has been bankrolling ployment and bad housing, through denying clared that the Ferguson protesters “should district where Michael Brown attended high itself vis-à-vis racial profiling and harass- you the resources you need to live. be put down like a rabid dog.” Another sub- school, in which students are almost entire- ing black residents with costly tickets, From Ferguson to Detroit to Staten Is- urban cop, on duty in Ferguson during the ly black, is controlled by a white out-of-state warrants and court fees for such crimes as land, this summer’s protests have been a protests, pointed his rifle in protesters’ faces Republican. “driving while black,” so-called jaywalking source of hope. But if protesters are to ulti- and yelled, “I will fucking kill you.” After Unequal political power perpetuates (as Mike Brown was stopped for) and other mately succeed, we have to remember this: both incidents received news coverage, the unequal access to resources. The largely trumped-up violations. without attacking the systemic racism that two men were obliged to leave their jobs – but poor and black residents of Ferguson and The reason communities like Ferguson or has been the feeding ground for dehuman- these and similar incidents raise questions Detroit both contend with shrinking city Detroit lack the funds to pay for basic needs izing black life, we will be here again. about the institutional culture they reflect. services that impede daily life, abysmal job is not because there is no money. Millions Certainly in Ferguson, those protesting prospects, punitive social-welfare policies, of dollars in Federal resources have been Bridgett Davis is a Detroit native and pro- Brown’s killing were treated by the police and under-funded school systems. An acute allocated to equip local police forces across fessor of journalism and creative writing force as an inhumane entity en masse. The example is the fact that the high school Mi- the country with military combat gear, often at Baruch College. Her new novel, Into The use of armored vehicles, tear gas, plastic Go-Slow (Feminist Press, Fall 2014), is set in bullets, threatening tactics and unconstitu- Lagos and Detroit. tional arrests sent a clear message: if you ‘It’s time we’re seen as equals.’ Clarion | September 2014 OPINION 11

TAKING THE PULSE ‘What I’d say to the chancellor...’ Since he took office in June, CUNY Chancel- first-rate education to those traditionally fore, should oppose the current admissions ment and demonstrations and laboratory lor J.B. Milliken visited a number of CUNY excluded from higher education. Students practices and work to being about a more support for experiments and for research, campuses. Many PSC members would have say our work really changed their lives. just and equitable institution. and some of us play supervisory roles. We liked to join a campus meeting with the What helped make this possible was the – Larry Rushing, professor emeritus prepare students for careers in scientific chancellor, but often only a small group active role of faculty in developing the col- of psychology, LaGuardia CC and technical specialties. As CUNY con- was invited or the announcement was not lege, including its curriculum, through our tinues to expand in its course offerings, widely shared. And many members were out departments and governance bodies, in I hope that you will take the lead in restor- programs, and research in the STEM fields, of town. collaboration with administration. When I ing the professoriate to the dignity and greater demands and responsibilities are We asked PSC members what they’d like started teaching at CUNY, I was impressed respect it deserves by making strong strides placed on the CLT staff – often without any to tell the chancellor – and they have a lot to with how engaged the faculty was, and how toward providing adjunct faculty with the increase in compensation or additional hir- say! On this page we share selections from little I saw of the alienation that prevailed opportunity to earn the salaries, benefits, ing, and limited opportunities for advance- their comments; more can be seen in Clar- at another public university where I had job security, and working conditions needed ment. What changes, if any, do you foresee ion’s online edition (psc-cuny.org/clarion). previously taught. Sadly, the imposition of to provide CUNY students with the best pos- in the CLT title series to meet these chang- Here’s some of what PSC members would tell Pathways and other policies from above is sible learning experience. ing and increasing demands, consistent the chancellor: with CUNY’s mission and commitment to academic excellence? Resist the temptations of elitism. – Amy Jeu, CLT, Department of Geography, Remember that the original mission of the Hunter College Free Academy was to provide higher educa- tion for “the children of the whole people.” I write in the hope that you will embrace the Respect the community colleges as PSC as a true, and much needed, partner in CUNY’s only open-access institutions. all of CUNY’s endeavors. PSC members are Recognize their importance by appointing dedicated to the mission of public education. a Vice Chancellor for Community Colleges. The first thing I want to stress is that we – Joanne Reitano, professor of history, need a new contract. We have been without LaGuardia Community College a contract since 2010. Salaries, workloads, adjunct equity, advancement for Higher At CUNY, full-time faculty are overloaded Education Officers, health benefits, and with coursework, advising and service. other contract issues have a dramatic effect Part-time faculty are underpaid and often on the well-being of our membership and have responsibility for large classes and ad- our families. vising. They need job security and the same I also urge you to work with the PSC to do benefits as full-time faculty. Yet more than away with Pathways. The vast majority of our half of all teaching at CUNY is by part-time membership has rejected Pathways, and the faculty. This is the road towards assembly- PSC and University Faculty Senate are ready line production: more poorly paid part-time to work with you on an alternative transfer teaching, less full-time faculty, more work policy that will more directly address that for HEOs and more power to management. issue. Pathways does not adequately address Our students are shortchanged when most undermining this favorable state and leav- This means a pay scale that does not the transfer-credits issue, and this was never faculty have insecure, underpaid positions; ing CUNY demoralized. force adjunct faculty to dash around from a reason to reduce the standards of our gen- academic freedom also suffers when teach- I urge you to follow in the footsteps of our school to school in order to survive finan- eral education programs. ers are vulnerable. well-regarded former chancellor, Joseph cially in New York City; recognition that – George Emilio Sanchez, professor, chair After working for four years without a Murphy, and restore CUNY to its once fortu- people who have been teaching for a num- of the Department of Performing & Creative Arts, contract, we all need a raise. But our con- nate condition. ber of semesters or years at CUNY deserve College of Staten Island tract should also provide for more full-time – Jackie DiSalvo, professor emerita not to suffer the anxiety of insecurity at faculty lines and convert part-time to full- of English, Baruch College the start of every new semester; access to In the 39 years I’ve been a part of CUNY (as time positions. We need to end precarious office space and computers to maximize undergraduate, graduate, and faculty mem- and contingent work, strengthen the role of When the CUNY Board of Trustees ended contact with students; and the opportunity, ber), authority and control have increasing- faculty in governance, and end the rule of open admissions for the four-year colleges in whenever possible, to join the ranks of the ly been centralized at the top of the system, assembly-line experts over public education. the 1990s, faculty critics warned that doing so full-time faculty. in what used to be known as “80th Street.” – Tom Angotti, professor of urban affairs would reduce racial diversity. Today we see It’s a dire situation when the vast majority This trend has, I believe, brought about two & planning, Hunter College that the chickens have come home to roost. of college courses are taught by insecure, pressures deeply hostile to the mission of As a Community Service Society study has underpaid adjunct faculty, a situation that the University. The first is toward the ef- As someone who supports a family on just indicated, the number of incoming black and has only grown worse in the past 40 years. facement of the distinctive and autonomous one salary, I am most anxious to see our Latino students has vastly decreased in the But as you have noted, people all over the cultures and “souls” of the colleges, which contract settled favorably. Food prices, rent, so-called top tier colleges, such as Baruch, country look to CUNY as a bellwether lead- have become more and more mere “units” property taxes – all have gone up while my Queens, Hunter and CCNY, with the decline ing the way to the future. You are in an in a total system. This has also contributed salary has decreased in terms of real dol- especially steep among African Americans. excellent position to turn this truly tragic to increasingly severe administrative bloat lars. Next year, my son goes to college, with The irony is that the academically quali- situation around. of these “units,” and of the University as a tuition ever on the rise. Chancellor Milliken, fied students who are now being eliminated – Shirley Frank, adjunct assistant professor whole. These trends feed into faculty and we deserve a fair contract now. from these colleges are the descendants of English, York College staff demoralization, “bureaucratization – Kathleen Offenholley, associate professor of the student activists who brought about creep,” and waste of energy and resources. I of mathematics, BMCC open admissions a half-century ago. Op- College Laboratory Technicians (CLTs) urge you to do whatever you can to reverse portunity and not exclusivity is the proper serve as the backbone of CUNY’s science these trends and “bring the beast to heel.” Baruch College has never made the list of model for a university founded on educating and technology programs. CLTs provide lec- – John Pittman, associate professor “best party schools,” but our academic pres- all of the people. Chancellor Milliken, there- ture support in the form of set-ups of equip- of philosophy, John Jay College tige has steadily increased, and national evaluators have given us high grades. They attribute this partly to our program being Clarion SEPTEMBER 2014 less vocational than many business-oriented Newspaper of the Professional Staff Congress/City University of New York, collective bargaining representative of the CUNY instructional staff. Vol. 43, No. 6. PSC/CUNY is affiliated with the American colleges since we required that Baruch stu - Association of University Professors, National Education Association, 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, 61 Broadway, 15th floor, New York, NY 10006. Telephone: (212) 354-1252. Website: www.psc-CUNY.org. Email: [email protected]. All opinions expressed in these pages are dents, in addition to their major, also follow a not necessarily those of the PSC. rigorous general education curriculum in the PSC OFFICERS: Barbara Bowen, President; Steven London, First Vice President; Arthurine DeSola, Secretary; Michael Fabricant, Treasurer; George Brandon, Jonathan Buchsbaum, Penny Lewis, arts & sciences. Unfortunately, that reputa - Costas Panayotakis, Michael Spear, University-Wide Officers; Robert Cermele, Vice President, Senior Colleges; David Hatchett, Blanca Vásquez, Alex Vitale, Senior College Officers; Anne Friedman, Vice President, Community Colleges; Lorraine Cohen, Sharon Persinger, Felipe Pimentel, Community College Officers; Iris DeLutro, Vice President, Cross-Campus Units; Alan Pearlman, Andrea tion and achievement is now threatened by Ades Vásquez, Paul Washington, Cross-Campus Officers; Marcia Newfield, Vice President, Part-Time Personnel; Michael Batson, Susan DiRaimo, Steve Weisblatt, Part-Time Personnel Officers; Bill Pathways, with its less demanding course of Freidheim, Eileen Moran, Retiree Officers; Irwin H. Polishook, President Emeritus; Peter I. Hoberman, Vice President Emeritus, Cross-Campus Units. study, leaving Baruch with 12-15 fewer gen- STAFF: Deborah Bell, Executive Director; Naomi Zauderer, Associate Executive Director; Faye H. Alladin, Coordinator, Financial Services; Debra L. Bergen, Director, Contract Administration & University-Wide Grievance Officer; Dierdre Brill, Director, Organizing; Francis Clark, Coordinator, Communications; Barbara Gabriel, Coordinator, Office Services and Human Resources; Jared Herst, eral education credits. Coordinator, Pension & Health Benefits; Kate Pfordresher, Director, Research & Public Policy; Diana Rosato, Coordinator, Membership Department; Peter Zwiebach, Director of Legal Affairs. A major reason for our success has been Editor: Peter Hogness / Associate Editor: Shomial Ahmad / Designer: Margarita Aguilar / Copy Editors: Kari Hoerchler, Teri Duerr our faculty’s commitment to providing a © 2014 Professional Staff Congress/CUNY Professional Staff Congress/CUNY 61 Broadway, 15th Floor NonProfit Org. New York, New York 10006 U.S. Postage PAID Return Service Requested New York, N.Y. 15 –MINUTE ACTIVIST Permit No. 8049 Pass it on! Be sure to show new the PSC website (psc-cuny. colleagues your copy of org/Clarion). While you’re Clarion – they won’t yet be chatting, invite new co- on our subscription list. workers to come to the PSC’s Since they must make a mass membership meeting permanent choice of pension that is being planned for system in their first 30 days October, to learn about the on payroll, they should see campaign for a new union the article on page 9. The contract. (See page 3 for article can also be found on details.)

12 UNION VIEWS Clarion | September 2014

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS What’s going on in contract talks? By BARBARA BOWEN a commitment to addressing three major PSC President priorities beyond salary: relief in the full- time faculty teaching load; a fair system for have opportunities to write to PSC HEOs to advance in their jobs; and job secu- members, but I also rely on your mes- rity and equity for adjuncts. Some of these sages to me. I learned many years issues will require economic resources, ago from academics in South Af- but some, such as a job security system for rica that it is a privilege to be ac- adjuncts, are non-economic. Reforming Icountable to others politically, and I take the shameful system of adjunct labor has seriously being accountable to you. So taken more than one contract, and may take with gratitude to the PSC members who legislative action. The same is true of reduc- have started conversations on the sub- ing the teaching load to a level comparable way, who have sent emails, phoned the to teaching loads elsewhere. But we must union office or stopped me on the street, make meaningful progress in this contract. here is a selection of the questions you Every improvement the union has won or most often ask, together with my replies. demanded is ultimately about the quality of education: as anyone who has taught in a Other unions in the city are settling CUNY classroom or tried to use CUNYfirst their contracts; why do we still have no knows, faculty and staff working conditions contract? are literally students’ learning conditions. The paralysis in negotiations created When the union demands workplace jus- by Mayor Bloomberg’s insistence on wage tice in our contract, we are taking a stand Peter Kuper Peter freezes has been ended under Mayor against the economic and racial injustice de Blasio. Many of the 152 expired contracts What kind of offer can we expect; will it roactive pay to cover some of the big cost that has created substandard working con- with City unions are being settled. But the be similar to the economic settlements increases we have experienced – whether it’s ditions at CUNY. PSC’s contract is different; it requires ap- reached with other public-employee a child’s college tuition or the need to find provals by the State government as well as unions? housing in New York City. Retroactivity has Okay – I haven’t been active in the union, the City. We don’t have a new contract be- The PSC bargaining team has made it to be negotiated, and it’s impossible to ne- but the lack of a contract is hurting me cause the CUNY administration has not put clear to management representatives that gotiate retroactive pay increases when the personally. What can I do? an economic offer on the table, as of the date we will not accept a poverty contract. Nei- University administration has yet to offer You can agree to be part of the collective I am writing. Without an economic offer, it ther New York City nor New York State is any increase at all. The union bargaining power we will need to win a good contract in is impossible to discuss raises or to resolve in deficit, and there is no reason to impose team has made it clear that full retroactive a period when austerity is being imposed on other issues that would require the expendi- further economic austerity on CUNY. pay is a priority. The PSC has historically unions and working people. Sign up on the ture of funds, such as relief in the teaching While the union leadership is aware of the been successful in negotiating for full ret- PSC website to organize for the demonstra- load. The union can’t settle until we can ne- relatively small annual increases in many roactive pay for employees who were on tion we will hold this month unless CUNY gotiate about money. recent State and City union contracts, and payroll for the period covered by the raise, makes a viable economic offer; make a com- of the practice of “pattern bargaining,” we regardless of whether they have subse- mitment now to come to the mass meeting in Why hasn’t CUNY made an offer? are pressing for an offer that allows the quently retired. But in this round of bargain- October, where you will hear directly from My hope is that by the time you read University to make real progress on salaries ing we have seen some contracts with wage the bargaining team. (See page 3 for details.) this, the CUNY administration will have and working conditions. Unlike most public freezes and some with deferred retroactive Agree to be accountable for bringing two responded to PSC pressure and put a rea- employers in this expensive city, CUNY re- pay, so the bargaining team is particularly colleagues with you to each event. Being sonable offer on the table. Otherwise, the cruits nationally and has to be competitive vigilant on the issue of retroactive pay. accountable means talking to colleagues question is best answered by CUNY Board nationally. An inadequate offer, coming af- personally, letting us know that they’ve said Chairperson Benno Schmidt and Chancellor ter decades of systematic underfunding, will We urgently need a raise, but a raise yes, and maybe traveling to the events to- Milliken. But you can also speak directly to spell disaster for CUNY. will not end the inequities in the labor gether. Plan to attend the first union chapter your college president, who reports to the system at CUNY. Is the union attempting meeting on your campus this fall and help to chancellor, about the urgency of receiving I need to plan for my financial future. to address any other problems in this strategize on how to increase the pressure an economic offer. PSC contracts have often Can you say anything about retroactive contract? on your campus for a fair contract. been among the last in the city to be settled pay and whether retirees will receive full Yes. A single contract cannot solve inequi- Resist the message that we are power- because of the complexity of reaching agree- retroactivity? ties that took decades and a larger system of less; that is a management lie. As a union of ment on economics with both the City and After four years without a contract, I injustice to develop, but the PSC leadership 25,000 people at one of the city’s most impor- the State. This round may be particularly know that many of us are counting on ret- has a history of tackling inequity and made tant institutions, we have more power than difficult, but CUNY faculty and staff have many of us have imagined. But it’s only been patient long enough – we need a viable by acting together that we can make our economic offer now. We need a viable economic offer now. power felt.