30 Arrested as CUNY Staff Rally for Fair Contract

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“No Business as Usual”: CUNY Faculty and Staff Demand Fair Pay

In a defiant protest at John Jay College on October 21, 2024, CUNY faculty and staff declared “No Business as Usual!” as they rallied for overdue raises and job security. More than 30 protesters were arrested at the CUNY Board of Trustees hearing, where union members from the Professional Staff Congress (PSC) staged a mass disruption and blocked the college’s entrance, demanding real raises to keep pace with inflation and living costs in NYC.

30 Arrested as Hundreds Demand Fair Contract

With chants of “Real Raises! Job Security! Contract Now!” echoing outside John Jay College, 30 CUNY staff were arrested as part of a demonstration joined by hundreds of faculty, students, and labor allies. PSC President James Davis, an English professor at Brooklyn College, led the charge and was among those arrested. “CUNY’s offer leaves faculty and staff struggling, while executives enjoy 27% to 30% pay bumps,” Davis said. “No fair offer, no business as usual.”

PSC Members are arrested while demanding a fair economic offer from CUNY Trustees (Photo by Erik McGregor)

PSC Calls for Raises, Job Security, and Respect

CUNY’s 30,000 faculty and professional staff—who haven’t seen a raise since November 2022—face a contract offer that lags behind inflation and fails to provide necessary job security for adjunct faculty. PSC has proposed an 18% pay raise over four years, while CUNY’s current offer is capped at 12.25% over 4.5 years, a stark contrast that PSC members say undermines the institution’s mission and the students they serve.

Standing Up for CUNY’s Future

“Standing up for a fair contract means standing up for our students,” said Youngmin Seo, an adjunct professor at LaGuardia Community College, who was also among the arrestees. “Our teaching conditions directly impact our students’ learning conditions. We can’t focus fully on mentorship if we’re constantly stressed about how to make ends meet.” PSC leaders underscored that underfunding faculty ultimately hurts CUNY’s ability to serve the city’s most underserved students, with 79% being people of color and 40% the first in their families to attend college.

PSC Members are arrested while demanding a fair economic offer from CUNY Trustees (Photo by Erik McGregor)

NYC Labor Stands with PSC

Labor allies, including NYC Central Labor Council President Vincent Alvarez, joined PSC in calling for a fair contract. “CUNY’s workers deserve pay and conditions that reflect their essential contributions to our city,” Alvarez said. “A world-class public university demands fair treatment for its educators and staff. The entire NYC Labor Movement stands with PSC in their fight for respect, equity, and dignity.”

The Battle Ahead: Key Facts and Timeline

PSC members have been without a contract since February 2023, and CUNY’s stagnant offer of 3% annual raises over 4.5 years is far below the union’s demand for 18%. Most adjuncts earn just $5,500 per course, significantly less than adjuncts at private institutions like NYU, where pay starts at $10,000 per course. PSC’s demands include job security, pay parity, improved benefits, and flexible work options to better serve NYC’s students and communities.

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