PROTECTING OUR HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELL-BEING AT BMCC

►Brought in an outside environmental consultant to monitor the air, and our health and safety, and to meet with BMCC and CUNY administrators in the wake of 9/11.

►Brought in the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH) to survey the effects of 9/11 on faculty and students.

►With the active assistance of City Council members such as Alan Gerson, helped win funding for the demolition and rebuilding of the Fiterman Building.
►Continued oversight and monitoring of health and safety of demolition process, attending CUNY hearings in November 2006 and February 2007. Jane Young, our Chapter Chair, was elected member of CUNY Advisory Committee on Fiterman Hall (2006-2007).

►Gathered over 6,000 signatures on a successful petition (2002-2003) that got the CUNY administration to repair and rebuild elevators and escalators at BMCC.

►Waged a successful campaign with the administration and faculty/staff to get the CUNY Central Administration to commit to replacing our outdated and dysfunctional Heating and Air Conditioning System by 2010, and to installing three new “chillers” (2007-2008).

►Testified at numerous hearings about the state and city budget, tuition increases, as well as post 9/11 health and safety and space problems at BMCC.

►Organized a delegation of 50 from BMCC to the NYSUT rally in Albany (Spring 2003) protesting statewide budget cuts in education.

►Collected 17,000 postcards signed by BMCC students and faculty protesting budget cuts in Albany and urging investment in CUNY (2003).

►Joined student protests of tuition increases (2002-2006).

►Organized over 100 BMCC faculty/professional staff to attend the PSC mass contract meeting at Cooper Union (Sept. 29, 2005).

DEFENDING OUR  PROFESSIONAL  LIVES AT BMCC

►Campaigned to relieve overcrowding for full-time and part-time faculty in the wake of 9/11, winning additional space for classes and offices.

►Won the right of faculty to participate in Childcare Network of Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens (2004).

►Held CUNY Week demonstrations, panel discussions and presentations (2002—2006).  The most recent CUNY Week (March 2006) included presentations and films on Race and Hurricane Katrina, and the De-funding of Public Higher Education.

►Successfully campaigned to maintain the Faculty Cafeteria in 3^rd Floor Dining Room.

►Organized a successful petition campaign (2003-2004) to increase the number of Faculty Counselors at BMCC.
►Supported Faculty Counselors who were protesting the proposed creation of new HEO Counselor title in recently negotiated PSC contract. The Chapter unanimously passed a resolution against the creation of HEO Counselor title (April 20, 2005), which was presented at the PSC Delegate Assembly (April 21, 2005).

►Organized a meeting of adjunct representatives with department chairs (December 7, 2004).

►Organized a meeting of department chairs and the Chapter Executive Committee concerning summer pay (2004).

►Pressured administration to dramatically increase the number of sabbaticals at BMCC—from one or fewer sabbaticals in the years preceding 2001, to seven in 2003. In 2005-2006, there were five sabbaticals, of which three were fully paid half-year leaves.

►Won an Administration-organized Adjunct Orientation for Fall 2007; campaigned for rights of adjuncts in terms of pay, space, facilities, and overall treatment by department chairs.

►Provided effective, knowledgeable grievance counseling to dozens of BMCC faculty and staff, with positive outcomes in many cases.

ORGANIZING A DEMOCRATIC CHAPTER
 

►Organized a Contract Enforcement Committee with departmental representatives.

►Held monthly chapter meetings with attendance ranging from 40 to over 100 faculty and staff.

►Published union newsletter, The Gadfly, two or three times each semester.