Last Wednesday (4/19) marked 50 days since the PSC’s contract with CUNY expired and the University’s administrators have made no signs of coming to the bargaining table anytime soon. They claim the delay is due to their negotiator quitting, but this is not the main reason. Why would they negotiate with us when it’s cheaper for them to keep us out of contract? Under New York State labor law, the terms of our previous contract will remain in place indefinitely until we reach a new agreement. That means CUNY can continue paying us poverty wages for as long as they want. Management also knows that the longer we’re stuck without a contract during this period of massive inflation, the more likely it is that we’ll settle for crumbs just to survive. The only thing that will bring the bosses to the table, as university workers around this country have been demonstrating for the past six months, is militant rank-and-file action. During the last round of negotiations, we were out of contract for two-and-a-half years. How long will we wait this time? 

To get involved in rank-and-file member organizing at the GC, register to attend our next online chapter meeting Monday, April 24 at 12:30pm. We’ll be discussing our chapter’s demands and strategies for winning them. You can also talk to union organizers at any of our weekly Wednesday potlucks in the Dining Commons or at other Reclaim the Commons events. For more information, please email Zoe Hu.

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