By Kathryn Cares
May 12, 2016
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — To chants of, "What's outrageous? Poverty wages," a small but boisterous group of union members at the College of Staten Island rallied for a new contract and greater investment in the City University of New York.
Results of a strike authorization vote were released just after the rally. The City University of New York announced that 92 percent of the union's voting members have voted to authorize a strike to achieve a fair contract. The vote does not call a strike but it gives power to the executive council to call one if it is deemed necessary.
"We want the legislature to know we are supporting a fair and equitable contract," George Emilio Sanchez, chapter chair of the Professional Staff Congress union at CSI, said at the Thursday afternoon gathering.
PSC President Barbara Bowen said the union remains committed to resolving the contract through negotiations and will not take any job action during the current academic year. It could take action in the fall if left with no alternative.
Some 27,000 faculty members and staff at CUNY's 24 campuses, including the CSI campus in Willowbrook, are represented by the PSC. Faculty and staff have been working without a contract for five years.
The local chapter represents 1,500 in the collective bargaining, according to Sanchez, with 1,000 registered as members.
They were joined at the rally by members of DC 37, the union that represents support staff at the college, such as administrative assistants and maintenance workers.
"We are on the front line for students and support staff to faculty and administration," said Michelle Karpeles, shop steward with Local 384. "Enrollment increases, workload increases and there is more responsibility. We do it for the students, but we want a fair contract."
CUNY says it offered faculty members a six-year contract, with a total six percent wage increase. The salary offer was rejected by the union. PSC proposed a 14 percent wage increase over the same six-year period.
Student groups and Members of the Communication Workers of America (CWA) who are on strike with Verizon attended the rally in solidarity.
"Unions are few and far between. If we don't all stand together, we're done," said Patrick Youngkin, business agent with CWA Local 1102 and a lineman with Verizon.
Representatives from Peace Action Staten Island, New York Public Interest Research Group and Students for Justice in Palestine also attended to support the CSI staff.
"We are still looking for greater economic support for our overdue contract, and to demonstrably increase the overall CUNY budget," said Sanchez. He noted that the New York Legislative session will close in mid-June, and the rally was planned to keep the issues in front of legislature and the general public.
After the rally Sanchez, chair of performing and creative arts department, invited the attendees for refreshments and Mexican food.
STRIKE AUTHORIZATION
The strike authorization vote was held May 2 to 11. The results were seen as a resounding "yes," reflecting the resolve of faculty and staff to do what needs to be done to improve working conditions for themselves and the students.
"The union hopes to build on the growing public and legislative support for funding our contract, and we will do our utmost to reach an agreement through negotiations, without a strike," said Bowen. "But after six years without a raise, many of us are struggling to keep up with the cost of living for ourselves and alarmed at the threat to academic quality at CUNY. The vote shows that PSC members are ready to take a stand for what we need and what we believe in," she added.
Under the state's Taylor Law, municipal unions are prohibited from striking. The state law imposes financial and legal penalties on public-sector unions and employees who participate in strikes or other job actions. However, the vote itself is within the law.
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