The meeting began with a report from PSC President Barbara Bowen about our contract ending on November 30th. She explained how the PSC bargaining team along with its supporting committees came up with our union’s list of contract demands. Barbara pointed members to the survey results published in the most recent Clarion. The demands will be presented and voted on by PSC members at the October 19th Delegate Assembly (please come!). If you have a pressing demand you want to discuss, please contact your representative on the bargaining team.

Following Barbara, Gerry Martini spoke about the need for a social media campaign to start pressuring #CUNY now to bargain for the contract and to push Governor Cuomo to sign the Maintenance of Effort bill (MOE). Anh Tran also encouraged all members to speak to at least 2 other people about the contract so that members are aware of the contract fight when we escalate the fight. Andrea Vasquez, chair of the HEO chapter, reported on HEO contract demands.

Isaac Jabola-Carolus made an announcement about the Graduate Student survey results emphasizing that the number one demand for Graduate Students is $7,000 per course for adjuncts. Chris Natoli made an announcement about the Rally for 7K happening on September 26.

We then passed a box around to raise money for the Spectrum workers’ Striking Families Hardship Fund. There are currently 1,800 members of IBEW Local 3 at Spectrum Communications in NY and NJ on strike to defend their healthcare and pensions. They have been without a contract since 2013. The strike has now entered its 6th month and striking workers need help. We raised $164 for the Striking Families Hardship Fund. Please consider donating to the fund.

In the next section of the meeting, Marc Kagan presented the list of issues we will be presenting to CUNY management during our labor-management meeting on September 25. If you are interested in attending a Labor Management meeting or getting involved, please contact Marc at marckagan@aol.com.