CUNY Academic Commons

October and December 2024 GC Chapter Meeting NotesWe held two Graduate Center chapter-wide meetings on October 31 and December 6, 2024 In our October meeting, we heard statements from each of our candidates running for 5 open alternate delegate positions. We had an open discussion of member issues. In our December meeting, we held elections for our open alternate delegate positions. The following members ran and were unanimously elected as alternate delegates and have now joined our chapter leadership: Rachel Duff Helena Najm Forrest Pelsue Joe Riccio Hart Zhang Following the election, we had a presentation and discussion on academic freedom led by the PSC Academic Freedom Committee. Members are encouraged to reach out to chair Tony Alessandrini with questions or concerns […] “October and December 2024 GC Chapter Meeting Notes”

September 2024 GC Chapter Meeting MinutesElection We held an election for chapter chair. Sofya Aptekar and Evan Rothman ran unopposed as co-chairs and were elected unanimously. Resolutions Two resolutions were brought to the meeting with urgency. Those assembled voted to review and vote on the resolutions within the September meeting. Both the PSC and NYCERS Israeli Investments Divestment Resolution and the Removal of Starbucks Products from the Graduate Center Resolution were passed by those assembled. Upcoming We have another scheduled chapter meeting in November, and will be looking to fill delegate vacancies before that meeting. Please be in touch with the chapter’s principal officers if you are interested in representing the Graduate Center Chapter in the […] “September 2024 GC Chapter Meeting Minutes”

PSC and NYCERS Israeli Investments Divestment ResolutionThe following resolution was passed at our September 24, 2024 GC PSC chapter meeting. PSC and NYCERS Israeli Investments Divestment Resolution Whereas, for eleven months the Israeli government has engaged in bombing and other warfare in the Gaza Strip killing at least 40,000 people including, by Israel’s own account, 23,000 civilians. Whereas, these attacks have included those on schools and UN shelters, in violation of commonly accepted “rules of war.” Whereas, the international community has strongly condemned Israeli actions, including the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for war crimes, the International Court of Justice’s opinion that Israel’s occupation of the occupied Palestinian territories is unlawful, and its preliminary finding that there is a plausible claim that genocide is occurring in Gaza. Whereas, in the past, such as during the period of apartheid rule in South Africa, American institutions such as colleges and labor unions have used the tool of divestment to show their disapproval of state policies that violate international human rights laws, and also to weaken those states economically. Whereas the investment holdings of the Professional Staff Congress include bond funds such as the Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund and the Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund, which have holdings of Israeli government bonds. Whereas, the Teachers’ Retirement System of the City of New York (TRSNYC) and the New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS) have direct investments of $100 million and $115 million, respectively, in Israeli companies and government bonds. Whereas, at a special meeting of AFSCME DC37 Local 3005, which represents public health workers, 92% of attendees voted for a resolution, which calls for the local to post a statement on its website supporting NYCERS divestment, and for the local’s president to send a letter to the NYCERS board expressing the local’s support of this move. Therefore, be it resolved that the Professional Staff Congress should follow in the footsteps of AFSCME Local 3005 by sending an official letter to the TRS board expressing its support for complete disinvestment from Israel, and also post that letter prominently on its website. And, be it further resolved that the Professional Staff Congress shall divest its own funds from any investment vehicle that includes in its portfolio stocks and bonds of Israeli companies and Israeli government bonds no later than the end of January 2025, and shall continue in good faith to try to meet that investment objective. And, be it further resolved that the Professional Staff Congress shall establish a volunteer committee to investigate whether further divestment is appropriate and feasible, which shall report back to the PSC Delegate Assembly n […] “PSC and NYCERS Israeli Investments Divestment Resolution”

The Graduate Center Chapter of the Professional Staff Congress (GC PSC) Demands the Removal of Starbucks Products from the Graduate CenterThe following resolution was passed at our September 25, 2024 GC PSC chapter meeting. The Graduate Center Chapter of the Professional Staff Congress (GC PSC) Demands the Removal of Starbucks Products from the Graduate Center WHEREAS students, faculty, and staff at the Graduate Center, including the DGSC and PSC, organized for food access on campus by reclaiming the dining commons, WHEREAS the Graduate Center signed a contract with Alladin Campus Dining that includes non-unionized labor, unaffordable food, and the sale of Starbucks products at 365 Cafe and Bar located in the lobby of the Graduate Center, WHEREAS Starbucks became the target of an organic boycott campaign by the Palestinian liberation and labor movements following the company’s union-busting lawsuit against Starbucks Workers United over the union’s social media post in solidarity with Palestine, BE IT RESOLVED that the GC PSC demands the removal of Starbucks products from the Graduate Center, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the GC PSC calls on the Graduate Center community to honor the boycott of Starbucks products, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the GC PSC demands free and affordable dining options on campus at all times the building is open, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the GC PSC stands in solidarity with the food service workers in the building and their right to good working conditions, just compensation, and a fair contract, BE IT FURTHER RES […] “The Graduate Center Chapter of the Professional Staff Congress (GC PSC) Demands the Removal of Starbucks Products from the Graduate Center”

SLU union meeting 05.06.24Update from colleagues on arrest and police presence at the CCNY encampment: Traumatizing experience. A SLU colleague was issued a summons for protesting at CCNY. However, approximately 30 students, staff, and faculty arrested at the CCNY encampment got felony charges. They were charged with burglary. Note: Columbia University students got misdemeanor charges. Shocked at the level of violence and brutality meted out against students. A SLU student got a police-inflicted concussion. How can SLU support students (including providing emotional support, assignment extension, and more)? Chancellor’s statement on the events: Frustrating Maddening Key Issues Raised: Process for identifying all SLU students arrested at the encampment/protests. Address the ongoing criminalization of students, faculty, and staff. Process and plan for supporting SLU students arrested or injured at protests. Address NYPD’s use of force on CUNY campuses. Address the suppression/repression of free speech on CUNY campuses. Create space for the SLU community to gather and discuss the moment we are in. Concretize a student support action plan (assignment extensions, and more) Grade boycott (at other universities). Proposed Demands and Next Steps Strategize SLU’s response to campus encampment and CUNY’s response (free speech suppression, NYPD on campus, criminalization of students, staff, and faculty). Actions: Draft letter on offering care and support to the SLU community. Draft letter on unfolding events at CCNY and across CUNY campuses from SLU as a social justice school. Remember the real demands. Identify opportunities to co-create with the student unions on ways to collaborate with labor unions. Plan a SLU community assembly scheduled for next week (5/17 more information will be shared with this group) Develop strategy/response for SLU’s commencement planning (if needed) Letter to Chancellor regarding Hochul’s antisemitism lawyers on CUNY campuses. Overall Possible Demands Demand CUNY drop all protest encampment-related charges. Endorse the five demands developed by student organizers. Amnesty for all students and faculty arrested at the CUNY/CCNY protests. Cops off campus. Other Possible PSC/SLU Actions and Next Steps Schedule a follow up meeting of SLU/PSC (mindful of commencement walk through schedule to avoid scheduling conflicts). Community Assembly (tentatively scheduled for 5/17 in the evening). Discussion/Report Back from the AGC meeting on May 1st SLU Leadership: Speak to SLU’s advisory board about aligning SLU’s investments to its social justice values. Open to a discussion with faculty and staff after speaking to the advisory board and lawyers (he knows) about the issue. Outreach to the Labor Advisory Board regarding labor’s interests and investment in the issue. Unique opportunity to engage the Labor Advisory Board. Raise the issue of free speech and the right to protest with SLU trustees. Seek out opportunities to organize and engage with other CUNY presidents. What can we do as a college? Draft and issue a SLU statement on student care and provide an analysis of the overall situation at CUNY re: the 5 Demands, free speech repression and use of police force at CCNY and other CUNY campuses. Outreach to the student union and retrieve letter that was drafted post AGC meeting; identify ways to co-create with the student union; and capitalize on this teaching moment on ways to act in solidarity with labor unions. Support and amplify students’ demands: Cops Off Campus and Free Speech! Stand in solidarity with UAW at NYU and Columbia. CUNY? Broader SLU concerns: What are our requests to SLU’s advisory board? Will there be a student speaker at commencement? What if there is not a student speaker? The report from colleagues is that there will be an alum speaker. Actions at SLU’s commencement and contingency planning. What is the public library’s protocol/plan if there is disruption? SLU-wide assembly planning committee to frame the issue and plan the assembly. Identify and discuss any safety precautions for SLU because of the encampment/protests. A reminder to name the problem and connect this moment to a history of traumatization. Align with CUNY students on the free speech vs. justice argument. CUNY-wide Community Concerns: Use of NYPD’s Strategic Response Group on campus. Deployment of NYPD on CUNY students. Militarization of CUNY campuses (we should pushback). Infiltration that is taking place on CUNY campuses. Examining the role of police as agents of a fascist state. Better understand commencement contingency planning based on CUNY Law School action last year. Antisemitism Lawyers on Campus: Do not speak to lawyers without union representation. Have these Hochul lawyers visited SLU yet? No obligation to speak to antisemitism lawyers if they come to SLU. Volunteer to write to the chancellor (?). Other Issues to Consider: Ways to incorporate SUNY into the conversation. Agree on a timeline for getting the advisory board to issue a solidarity statement. Follow up with student leaders to obtain a statement developed by SLU’s student union. Discussion on whether to endorse the five demands. Two colleagues voiced opposition. Suggestions: bring as many people together as possible and keep the conversation as broad as possible. Create space for dialogue on ending the repression and militarization of CUNY. Use the community assembly space to focus on the root cause of the problem and the real demands. Timeline: Next PSC/SLU meeting for the week of 5/13. Community Assembly planning committee met on 5/8. The tentative date for SLU’s community assembly is 5/17. Release statements to SLU community. Statement of Care (ASAP) SLU Solidarity Statement (ASAP) Other (?) Information shared at the PSC/SLU meeting on 5/6: Monday, May 6th: CUNY-wide worker’s assembly Reflect on and analyze the (heated) conjuncture and then move to discuss, deliberate, and democratically decide how to best: Respond to the recent repression of our students and colleagues by the NYPD and CUNY administration, Plan for the upcoming (Thursday, May 9th) emergency Delegate Assembly and Continue to stand in solidarity with our courageous students and with the Palestinian people. RSVP to the zoom here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYpd-yuqD0qG9QmOddmTcDpwEYAUhsipuEH CCNY President’s Statement on Encampment: https://www.ccny.cuny.edu/presidentsoffice/blog/presidents-statement-encampment Statement of Solidarity that the encampment put out: https://bit.ly/cgsestatement Action letter designed for faculty & staff to pressure the Chancellor & CCNY President to get all charges dropped for encampment arrestees: https://actionnetwork.org/letters […] “SLU union meeting 05.06.24”

Letter to President BrumbergMay 7, 2024 Dear Interim President Brumberg, As you know, on April 25th, CUNY students, workers and community members established the CUNY Gaza Solidarity Encampment at City College, in order to call for Five Demands: • Divest! Immediately divest from ALL companies complicit in the imperialist-zionist genocide, including weapons, tech and surveillance, and construction companies. Commit to full financial transparency regarding CUNY’s institutional investments. • Boycott! Ban all academic trips to the Zionist state, encompassing birthright, Fulbright, and perspective trips. Cancel all forms of cooperation with Israeli academic institutions, including events, activities, agreements, and research collaborations. • Solidarity! Release a statement affirming the right of the Palestinian people to national liberation and the right of return. Protect CUNY students and workers who are attacked for speaking out against the genocide in Gaza and in solidarity with Palestinian liberation. Reinstate professors who have been fired for showing solidarity with Palestine. • Demilitarize! Demilitarize CUNY, Demilitarize Harlem! Get IOF and NYPD officers off all CUNY campuses, and end all collaboration, trainings and recruitment by imperialist institutions, including the CIA, Homeland Security and ROTC. Remove all symbols of US imperialism from our campuses: Rename the Colin Powell School of Global and Civic Leadership at CCNY and reinstate The Guillermo Morales and Assata Shakur Community and Student Center! • A People’s CUNY! We demand a fully-funded, free CUNY that is not beholden to zionist and imperialist private donors! Restore CUNY’s tuition-free status, protect the union, and adopt a fair contract for staff and faculty. On April 30th, CCNY management called the NYPD onto campus in response to the peaceful Encampment. The result was a militarized crackdown that terrorized and brutalized CGSE protesters, supporters and onlookers, and included the use of pepper spray and batons on students, workers and community members. The NYPD—including the Strategic Response Group, which the ACLU has declared one of the NYPD’s “most dangerous” units—wrought fear and violence on campus. At their hands, people exercising their First Amendment rights inside and outside the Encampment suffered broken bones, chemical burns, and other injuries. Close to 200 people were arrested; some, in violation of the law, were held without charges for over 36 hours. Now several CUNY community members are facing felony charges, whose gravity cannot be understated. It is essential that, as Interim President of the Graduate Center, you demonstrate support for any GC and CUNY community member who has suffered police brutality or legal repression. The PSC-GC Executive Committee asks you to: • Commit to academic amnesty for any GC-based organizer of the Encampment or protester arrested; no GC student should be penalized academically in their degree work at the GC. • Work to ensure that no GC students arrested or involved in organizing the Encampment will be retaliated against in their Graduate Assistant, Adjunct or other work duties across CUNY. • Identify financial resources at the GC that can be made available to those from the CGSE in need of legal support or compensation for belongings that were lost during the police raid. • Call on CUNY administration to refuse to participate in the prosecution of those arrested on April 30th. The night of April 30th saw an unprecedented assault on CUNY and on City College’s wider Harlem community. PSC leadership has already condemned the use of police force at the university and urged for the dropping of charges. It is essential that CUNY leadership on local campuses join this call and demonstrate concrete support for our students and workers, especially as they are being demonized by distorted “outside agitator” narratives. As CUNY students—both graduate and undergraduate—risk retaliation to mobilize around their Five Demands, and to call for CUNY to end its financial and academic ties to Israel and the industrial military complex, this is a moment where decisiveness from CUNY leadership is greatly needed. Signed, PSC-GC Executive Committee co-signed by PSC- […] “Letter to President Brumberg”

Taylor Law event 03.07.24 More than 100 people attended our The Taylor Law: The risks and rewards of striking in New York State event with Labor Historian Joshua Freeman. It was a hybrid event held at the School of Labor and Urban Studies. The video of the event can be found on our YouTube channel. Due to technical difficulties, you can’t see Josh until about 10 minutes into the video, but you can hear him and there are […] “Taylor Law event 03.07.24”

PSC Letters to CUNY Board of Trustees and Chancellor Call for Open Presidential Search The Graduate Center Chapter of the PSC and PSC President Davis have each sent letters to the CUNY Board of Trustees and CUNY Chancellor calling for an open and inclusive search process that welcomes the whole of the Graduate Center community to select our next […] “PSC Letters to CUNY Board of Trustees and Chancellor Call for Open Presidential Search”

Notes from GC Labor-Management Meeting January 2024Follow-up items from previous meetings: Science bridge funding: Interim President Brumberg is meeting later this month to pursue GTF class size issues: Brumberg will discuss with EOs Payment issues and CUNYBuy support Labor raised the changes that CUNYBuy has brought, increase in workload with new system. Brumberg is putting together groups to generate step by step instructions for working with CUNYBuy, particularly knows about issues paying honoraria. Acknowledged the issue as complex and requires re-registration at state level for anyone paid by CUNY. Future of WAC program Changes to WAC will not result in loss of financial support for students. This decision to change the system coming from CUNY Central, but the GC can generate a menu of options to fill in for the program. Brumberg will be speaking with EOs about alternative options, and changes will not be implemented until Fall 2025 [speak to your EO if you have suggestions!] Potential change in GC classification from R1 to R2 Change due to Carnegie classifications, American Council of Education. 2 metrics: # of phds the university graduates, and research spending from internal sources only. Classifications had not been updated since the 1980s. 5 million for #2 threshold. Graduate at least 70 phd on IPEDs, GC far exceeds that. #2 increased from 5 million to 50 million (!). Brumberg is trying to appeal for the GC to have its funding counted differently, across CUNY. Staff and community involvement in GC presidential search All presidential searches at CUNY have been closed for some time. This one will be closed as well. Search committee will be charged by BoT, chaired by a cuny college president–senior college in this case, 3 BoT, 3 faculty members elected, one alum (chosen by Brumberg), one GC foundation (chosen by Brumberg) and 2 student reps chosen by Matt Schoengood. Will be listening sessions for whole community with the search committee, but not candidates (those who meet with candidates will sign NDAs). Tuition reimbursement for work-related courses (and associated tax issues) Labor requests that application materials be changed to better outline tax implications for GC employees who are taking GC classes Postdoc employment status Discussion about confusion over whether these folks are tax levy funded or not (could be both, esp at ASRC), how they know about benefits and resources like library access, and funding postdocs not merely at national rates but to live in NYC. Update on food services: food services will launch on the 22nd of January. Before that on Thursday and Friday, 18th and 19th, before there will be free food. During the first and second semester there will be opportunities for feedback. Cafeteria open in the morning until 3pm. Grab and go will open later in the semester on the first floor. Portal and app for paying for food with 10% bonus for using the app. But restricted covenant that means that the dining spaces can’t use outside vendors–and this means potlucks can’t be held in these spaces (which are the rooms? 8th floor for sure, not sure which other rooms). They have a liquor license too. A bar will be opening in the found […] “Notes from GC Labor-Management Meeting January 2024”

Chapter Rally Nov 15, 2023 150 PSC members – grad workers, staff, and faculty from the Grad Center and the professional schools showed up to fight for living wages and fair working conditions – and to express our anger at working under an expired contract. Students, faculty, staff unite! One struggle, one fight! Check out the speech made by Olivia […] “Chapter Rally Nov 15, 2023”

Join Us On November 15 for Our Chapter RallyOn November 15, a PSC-GC rally will bring together speakers from across faculty, staff and student titles to call for a strong contract and assert a revived and more inclusive vision for the GC and the professional schools in our PSC chapter. We must advocate for a workplace that shows respect and dignity to its workers and that rejects austerity models for public higher education. We need better provisions for remote work, more fulltime faculty lines, more departmental and center resources, and higher wages. Many of us—not just graduate students—are struggling due to inflation. We need, urgently, to raise the low salaries that have people barely scraping by in one of the most expensive cities in the world. Our working conditions are the learning conditions of CUNY students — and will determine the well-being and future of the university as a whole. Our chapter’s core demands, taken from the demands voted on at our April 2023 chapter meeting, are $53k pay for all PhD students who want it; $13,000 per 3-credit class for adjunct faculty; and an end to chronic understaffing of all of our offices. The rally will be on November 15, at 1 PM. Details on speakers to come. Sidenote: If you are a PSC member and haven’t already attended a bargaining orientation, the next one is on Monday, November  6, 6:30-7:30pm, on Zoom. Click here to register for the Zoom and confirm your attendance. You MUST attend a bargaining orientation first if you want to come […] “Join Us On November 15 for Our Chapter Rally”

Resolution on Protection of Palestine Solidarity Speech and Academic FreedomWhereas the events detailed in PSC President James Davis’ October 25th letter to the Chancellor present a grave cause for concern regarding the future of academic freedom and labor rights at CUNY; Whereas, since the publication of President Davis’ letter, workers and students across the CUNY system have reported incidents of intimidation, doxxing, harassment, and disciplinary threats for participating in Palestine solidarity organizing or speech; Whereas over 600 legal organizations and professionals have released a new letter warning of increasing racist and unlawful attacks and retaliation against those advocating for Palestinian rights; Whereas Governor Kathy Hochul announced, on October 31st, the expansion of New York State Police’s Social Media Unit, a move that is likely to increase political surveillance of college students and workers across New York state; Whereas CUNY’s messaging and actions conflate expressions of solidarity with the internationally recognized Palestinian right to self determination with anti-Semitism, in what appears to be an attempt to intimidate and silence CUNY students and workers speaking out for Palestine; Whereas the actions of the CUNY administration and the governor fuel political attacks against CUNY and public higher education by right-wing, anti-labor politicians and actors; Let it be resolved that the PSC will commit support and resources to defend its members facing retaliation or harassment for their protected speech on issues related to social, economic and racial justice and will use the union’s communications channels to advise members of these resources; Let it be further resolved that the PSC will provide a training for its grievance counselors and chapter leadership before the start of the spring 2024 semester, and annually thereafter, led by experts in defending academic workers on free speech issues, to help them more effectively defend our members under attack for their protected expression;  Let it be further resolved that the PSC will organize an online or hybrid workshop with Faculty First Responders, open to all PSC members, with a presentation and Q&A component that will be shared on the PSC website; Let it be further resolved that the PSC will share with its membership regular updates summarizing the number and nature of incidents of repression of free speech reported to the union by members, and channel necessary organizing and financial resources to campus-wide conversations on free speech and academic freedom rights. Passed by PSC-GC Executive Committee co-signed by Graduat […] “Resolution on Protection of Palestine Solidarity Speech and Academic Freedom”

September 2023 Notes from Chapter MeetingThe first GC PSC chapter meeting of the year was held on Friday, September 22. What follows are brief notes on what was presented and discussed, and results of a few votes: Collective discussion: What is the purpose of PSC union work, what the PSC does for CUNY. GC especially is a fighting unit in the PSC, and our chapter is primarily made up of GC students. There was some discussion of issues on the ground for different titles and schools within the chapter. Nod to the intense late payment issue still ongoing for new GC students. Credit hours in many departments are being cut by GC admin, resulting in fewer courses, larger classes, difficulties in scheduling courses to support specialties. GAs being assigned mega/huge classes during first time teaching. Introduction of Professional School Liaison position: Sofya Aptekar was voted to be Professional School Liaison (a new role) after making a brief candidate statement. We also had updates from bargaining sessions and breakout room discussions. The campus action plan for the GC for this semester was shared and discussed (email psc.cuny.gc(at)gmail.com with questions or to get further involved) Labor Against Cop City Resolution: This resolution was passed by those assembled for the meeting: […] “September 2023 Notes from Chapter Meeting”

The Commons in Exile has been set up on the 1st floor of the GC On the 21st of August, Graduate Center President Robin Garrell sent out an email under the title “Dining Commons, Food Pantry and Food Services Update.” In this email she announced that the Dining Commons, on level 8 of the GC building, would be closed until October, and that the search for a new vendor for our cafeteria was still continuing “apace.” What she didn’t mention was the way that both of these “updates” are betrayals of her own word as president, and of the community we have been building since Spring. Garrell has back flipped on having food and pantry services ready by the start of Fall, and has now kicked us out of our own space for a whole month, She’s also given all of the credit to administration for the gains made by student activism and collaboration. In a statement to the GC Community, Chapter Chair Zoe Hu said: “Until the new pantry is established, Reclaim the Commons will continue to assist those struggling with food insecurity by re-establishing its old pantry in a new location (the Foundation Lounge on the ground floor).We will keep it running until the formal one opens. If you would like to join our effort, email us at [email protected] or donate funds by Venmo to @Zoe-Hu-1 (a record of receipts and Venmo use can be found here). Help us work towards a People’s CUNY!” (reposted from the 24 August Adjunct Project news letter) Want to get these posts delivered direc […] “The Commons in Exile has been set up on the 1st floor of the GC”

Sign up to attend a bargaining session!As our contract campaign continues, we encourage all union members to sign up to attend a bargaining session. The next one is September 6. All members need to attend a zoom orientation before attending actual bargaining sessions, so please fill out this sign-up form ASAP. Bargaining is likely to be a long process. The more we can demonstrate consistent member engagement, the more pressure we can put on CUNY management to win […] “Sign up to attend a bargaining session!”

South California hotel workers go on strike!Hospitality workers in Southern California go on strike during the big Fourth of July rush, joining the Writers’ Guild on the picket lines. Solidarity to striking workers everywhere!

Sign up to attend a bargaining session!Our union has begun bargaining for a new contract. We have had a couple of sessions so far, and members have been attending! Fill out this form if you are interested in attending, and look out for emails from PSC central as well. Want to get these posts delivered directly to your […] “Sign up to attend a bargaining session!”

Rolling nationwide Starbucks strikesWorkers at more than 150 Starbucks stores across the country plan to engage in strikes over the next week to protest the company’s hypocritical treatment of LGBTQIA+ workers.

UPS workers vote to authorize strike!UPS workers, as members of the Teamsters Union, have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike if an agreement is not reached by the time their current contract expires at the end of July. It would be the biggest American walkout […] “UPS workers vote to authorize strike!”