READ THE FINE PRINT.    On Monday, the American Arbitration Association sent out ballots for the PSC-CUNY election.   

In making your decision, we urge voters to go beyond bullet points -- to read and analyze literature from both sides for substance and method of argument.  In particular, we ask you to consider two pieces of New Caucus literature:

1. A letter from Barbara Bowen sent to your homes (click here).
2. “Ten Approaches to Academic Unionism” that we think distinguish us from our opponents (click here)

READ FURTHER.   We want to make a distinction between our opponent and us on two key points of difference (and we want to do this in full paragraphs, not bullet points).

1. How to negotiate a contract
2. A vision of the union

1. HOW TO NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT: In her letter to members, Barbara Bowen writes: 

On the basis of no history and no record of achieving any victories for members, they promise that they could win a better contract simply by having a “professional relationship” with management. For about five minutes, such a view might have an appeal. Who would not like to hear that all you have to do is sit back and wait for your negotiators to deliver a contract that answers every need? But that’s magical thinking, and it’s dangerous thinking. It takes no account of the real political situation in which every public employee union in New York State operates. A union leadership with that view would offer PSC members up to every concession management demands. 
 

The New Caucus has a very different approach to bargaining. Yes, we do our homework, presenting volumes of data and figures to bolster rational argument in hour after hour of contract negotiations.  But ultimately union negotiations are about power – the power of an engaged, active membership and the power to build alliances with and mobilize support from “friends” of CUNY -- labor, students and politicians who believe in public higher education.

Bargaining is also about patience – resisting the temptation to get a settlement for its own sake when that means making major concessions and short-changing our membership.  Had we agreed to a settlement earlier, departmental chairs would no longer be in the bargaining unit, HEOs would no longer have 13.3b (tenure) protection, instructional staff would return to teach on August 15^th, faculty and professional staff would have a sub-standard wage package and the Welfare Fund would continue to be under-financed for another four years.

2. A VISION OF THE UNION. We cannot defend the interests of our members – our pocketbooks, our professional integrity, our rights and our dedication to educating our students – without defending public higher education, in general, and CUNY, in particular; without participating in the life of the city, state and nation that defines the social and political context in which we work and teach.  Whether it is in the legislative bodies in Albany or at City Hall or in the policy deliberations of our affiliates (AFT, AAUP, NYSUT), we have put CUNY and public higher education on the agenda.  The results are real – budget restorations at City Hall and in Albany and major legislative initiatives from pension reforms to transit-checks to increased full-time lines. 

Our opponents define the work of the union in the narrowest of terms – contract negotiations between a small group from management and a small group from the union.  Members become spectators and in this dream world there are no larger political, economic and social realities that drive negotiations.  All that counts is the logic of our arguments and the civility of our tone.  Dream on! 

RE-ELECT THE NEW CAUCUS AND THE BARBARA BOWEN TEAM:  A LEADERSHIP THAT

• STANDS UP TO MANAGEMENT
• FIGHTS FOR ALL ITS MEMBERS
• BUILDS A UNION VOICE FOR CUNY