Governing Board:  Barbara Bowen, Lorraine Cohen, Bill Friedheim, Donna Gill, Rebecca Hill, Carl Lindskoog, Cecelia McCall, Eileen Moran, Marcia Newfield

Coordinators: Iris DeLutro, Susan DiRaimo, Mike Frank, John Hyland, Anselma Rodriquez and Michael Spear.

Treasurer: Dave Kotelchuk
 

2009 PSC ELECTION:  SLATE | BIOS | LITERATURE
 

The New Caucus is the leadership caucus of the Professional Staff Congress (PSC), the faculty and staff union at the City University of New York.    Union caucuses are like political parties within the union.  The New Caucus nominates candidates for union offices and develops a progressive vision for the union and CUNY that unites all its candidates and members.

First elected 2000 – and re-elected twice since then, the New Caucus slates have won the lead officer positions (Barbara Bowen, Steve London, Mike Fabricant and Arthurine DeSola) and the 27-member Executive Council.  The current HEO and CLT cross-campus leadership and most campus-based chapter Executive Committees prevailed in elections as New Caucus (or New Caucus supported) slates.

Even in the face of two economic crises (post 911 and the current economic meltdown), New Caucus leadership has mobilized membership, built strategic alliances and accomplished the following:

ENHANCED THE PROFESSIONAL LIVES OF OUR MEMBERS
 

►Won equity increases resulting in salary jump from 35% to 60% in lower-paid titles.
►Increased the very top salary steps by 34% over three contracts (e.g. the very highest step from $86,619 to $116,364).
►Enhanced equity in the following titles – lecturer, CLT, assistant-to-HEO and adjunct)
►Increased adjunct pay through the creation of a fully paid “professional hour.”
►Won extensive release time for non-tenured faculty.
►Increased sabbatical pay to 80%.  
►Created a Professional Development Fund for CUNY HEOs, CLTs, CETs and adjuncts.
►Won paid parental leave and sick-leave banking provisions.
►Won major overtime pay lawsuit for HEOs
►Won 35-hour workweek arbitration for HEOs.
►Saved 13-B Protections for HEOs.
►Won approval for 200 new full time lines for existing adjuncts.
►Won annual reappointment for eligible adjuncts.
►Defeated a so-called “Academic Bill of Rights” in Albany, which would have threatened Academic Freedom.
►Protected members’ rights to Travia leave through an arbitration victory.
►Won Pension equity for TIAA/CREF members with TRS. (resulting in a 3% increase in take-home pay)
►Stabilized the Welfare Fund so that it now has its biggest reserve fund ever.
 

BUILT A STRONGER CUNY 

►Changed the agenda in Albany and City Hall to (1) reverse a 15-year pattern of declining CUNY funding and (2) expand full-time faculty and professional staff.  
►Pushed Albany and City Hall to increase capital spending on buildings and facilities. 
►Made health and safety a center-stage issue at CUNY, including major initiatives regarding BMCC’s Fiterman Hall, CCNY’s Marshak Hall and Bronx CC’s sinkhole.
►Pushed CUNY to allocate more resources to counseling.

BUILT A NATIONAL AGENDA FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE 

►Worked with the AFT on a national program to reverse the “Academic Staffing Crisis.”
►Sponsored and won anti-war resolutions in NYSUT and the AFT
►Built alliances with local and national immigrant rights groups around access to higher education.

INCREASED THE POWER OF THE UNION 

►Significantly expanded grievance and contract enforcement efforts.
►Brought adjuncts into the union as full members.
►Kept Department Chairs from being taken out of the union.
►Activated campus chapters that win victories on issues such as workplace safety, faculty computer access, timely pay for adjuncts, and movement up salary steps. 
►Established new representation for HEOs, Adjuncts and Retirees on the Executive Council.
►Organized New CUNY RF Chapters.
 

EXPANDED ACCESS TO CUNY 

►Helped win legislation defending the rights of immigrant students to in-state tuition. 
►Waged a strong campaign with community groups to restore the rights of thousands of people on welfare to gain access to CUNY.
►United with students to oppose tuition increases and to reform TAP by making it more equitable.
►Supported students by working with the City Council to initiate safety-net scholarships and save the Vallone scholarships.