Wrong CUNY Conract Target

I have sent a note to Barbara urging that the focus of our contract concerns be re-directed to our trustees and to those who appointed them. It is they who control the purse strings. As some know, I have already pointed out to them that they risk down-grading CUNY _faculty standards_ by failing to make adequate financial provisions for both our junior faculty -- who are likely to take the next better job offer that comes along -- and our adjuncts who are stretched beyond any rational commitment to a teaching career. And contact your local political reps, too, by phone, if possible, or in person. We also have 60 community boards in NYC -- each of which has an education committee to alert along the same lines. There are a number of NYC candidates running for various offices now that should respond attentively to your calls. You are welcome to use the College Conversation list for communication, if you wish or are banned from the old UFS one. I am also sending this by blind copy to the adjunct list. Ed Kent


Dear PSC Colleagues,

In the last few weeks, many of you have written or called me about your anger at CUNY management's unacceptable economic offer of 1.5% over four years, and now their cancellation of last Friday's bargaining session. Many of you have also asked what you can do to support the bargaining team's message that we will not accept a minimal contract.

Here's one thing to do immediately: Go to the PSC website:

www.psc-cuny.org

and click on the image that says "Contract Now!" You'll see the easy instructions for sending an
email to Chancellor Goldstein demanding a serious economic offer. With only three or four clicks and a quick filling-in of your address, you can email the letter directly to the Chancellor. We will have to do more than send letters if we are to win a good contract in the current anti-labor and anti-intellectual environment, but don't underestimate the impact of a flood of letters this week.

Send the letter now--it takes less than five minutes. An outpouring of these letters in the last few days of the semester will convey a powerful message. Don't let the semester end without management's hearing from you on the critical issue of our contract.

In solidarity,
Barbara Bowen
PSC President
--
"A war is just if there is no alternative, and the resort
to arms is legitimate if they represent your last hope." (Livy)
--
Ed Kent 718-951-5324 (voice mail only) [blind copies]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CollegeConversation
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PeaceEfforts
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EndingPoverty
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/440neighborhood
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/StudentConcerns
http://BlogByEdKent.blogspot.com/