Letters to the Editor
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
‘Weak Position’
Re: “CUNY Faculty Union Finds Itself in a Weak Position,” Jacob Gershman, Page 1, July 1, 2005. Mr. Gershman’s article gives the impression that the current union leadership has not focused sufficiently on the union’s supplemental health-benefits fund. In fact, the current PSC leadership has been far more effective in solving the financial crisis in our Welfare Fund than either our predecessors or CUNY management. There were seven years of deficits in the Welfare Fund before we took office; our restructuring of benefits in 2002 saved more than $7 million a year. The article reports an unidentified source saying there was no new money negotiated by the PSC for the Welfare Fund in the 2000-2002 contract; in fact, the PSC directly negotiated millions of dollars a year in additional support.
The article cites unidentified sources stating that the fund’s cash reserve was as low as $432,867. According to the most recent unaudited report, the reserves are more than $3 million. The annual independently audited report of fund finances is filed with the New York City comptroller and is available for inspection.
In regard to academic freedom, the PSC joined the American Federation of Teachers and the American Association of University Professors in demanding due process rights for Sami Al-Arian. Similarly, we supported and helped to shape the AFT and AAUP statements opposing the boycott of two Israeli universities by the British Association of University Teachers.
The article notes the union leadership’s strong base of support among the membership; this base exists because of a five-year record of success in defending our members’ rights, winning material gains on issues such as salaries and pensions, and taking principled positions on the issues that matter to our members. The struggle for a contract is one example: Our members support the PSC’s refusal to accept a settlement that undervalues their work. We are willing to fight for the principle that this city’s public university should attract the best scholars and teachers – and you can’t do that without a fair contract.
BARBARA BOWEN
President Professional Staff Congress, CUNY
Manhattan
