Faculty and staff at CUNY colleges across the Bronx rallied for a fair contract Thursday.
Around 30,000 professors, faculty and graduate students across the CUNY system have been working without a union contract since February. Negotiations are ongoing.
Members of the Professional Staff Congress union at Bronx Community College made their demands known as dozens delivered their petitions in person to the college president. Some of their main bargaining points include fair wages, pay parity, job security and remote work options. They’re also fighting for more overall funding for CUNY. At BCC, professors say that money is especially needed to maintain conditions inside of buildings and classrooms on campus.
“We're here, not just for our own contracts,” said Maryanne Pita, a BCC professor. “Yes, we need to be treated with respect, but also because respect for us plays out into the way we are able to uplift our students.”
Similar rallies were also held at Hostos Community College and Lehman College Thursday afternoon, with the purpose of sending the same message to CUNY management.
“We are negotiating new collective bargaining agreements with the PSC and the other unions representing CUNY employees," a CUNY spokesperson said. "We do not comment on ongoing contract negotiations.”