Building Relationships, Forging Alliances, Standing United
This fall has seen a remarkable resurgence of Union activity and success, in the United States and abroad. From the UAW to SAG-AFTRA, from teachers and Macy’s workers in the Pacific Northwest to Tesla’s workers in Sweden, we’re seeing remarkable shows of strength from organized labor. Thanks to a tight job market, unionized portions of our workforce have been able to exert leverage to battle runaway inflation and the lingering effects of the COVID pandemic.
This is the power of workers standing united. When we speak together and with one voice, we are heard, and our words have impact. But even a united local needs to reach out beyond its membership, and build relationships that will ensure our message is received loud and clear.
We’ve seen this first-hand in our own contract negotiations. After receiving low-ball proposals on salary increases from the College, we reached out to colleagues at our State affiliate, the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), who provided the budget analysis revealing that WCC has a reserve fund balance of at least $54 million. We then brought this to the attention of the County Board of Legislators, asking them to raise questions about the relationship between this wildly excessive balance and the College’s budgeting for faculty pay. That’s exactly what we saw happen at the College’s budget presentation this summer—as we reminded the College’s Board of Trustees at its October meeting. And we believe these outreach efforts have had a direct impact on bargaining, resulting in a substantially improved economic offer from the College at our most recent negotiation session. We are certainly not where we want to be on salary increases, but we are clearly seeing positive movement.
The value of those alliances and relationships was on full display at this year’s NYSUT Community College Conference, as well. Each year, NYSUT hosts this event, and representatives from our Executive Committee attend to network with NYSUT staff and leadership from locals at other SUNY community colleges, as well as CUNY’s Professional Staff Congress and other organizations representing faculty in higher education (like the newly affiliated American Association of University Professors and the American Federation of Teachers). It’s an invaluable opportunity to make connections, learn how other locals are grappling with challenges similar to the ones we face, and strategize to unite with our external allies to improve working conditions for all. In addition to sessions focused on maintaining local solidarity, such as conflict resolution and grievances, were discussions on issues affecting the entire profession, both in its present condition and its future.
The Conference’s theme, “A New Deal for the Next Generation,” announced this emphasis explicitly. Nowhere did I see it more forcefully reflected than in a session about NYSUT’s planned campaign to “Fix Tier Six.” In case you don’t know, Tier Six of the Teachers Retirement System (TRS) offers dramatically reduced retirement benefits for faculty who are now entering the SUNY workforce, in comparison with earlier tiers:
- Tier 4 member contributions are capped at 3 percent and end after 10 years.Tier 6 members pay 3 to 6 percent of their salaries into the pension system their entire career — and they have to pay increased contributions when they get pay raises.
- Tier 4 members can retire at 55 with 30 years of service. Tier 6 members must work to 63, with up to 40 years of service, or face heavy penalties.
That discrepancy is unacceptable not only because it’s patently unfair to our youngest members; it also will make it increasingly difficult to attract the best candidates to our profession in the future.
Tier Six is just one example of the issues we face as faculty not only here at WCC, but across the SUNY system—issues that will require a truly united front and multiple alliances to resolve. It brings us back to the need for building strategic relationships, like the political connections we are strengthening with our County legislature. And it reminds us once again of how important our VOTE COPE contributions are: they enable us to get the right people into elected office, and ensure that our voice is heard.
We will continue to develop those relationships and others, including with the CSEA and with other education locals, as we push to bring our negotiations to a successful close, and as part of our long-term strategy to strengthen our Union. We need to stand united, both internally and with our allies, as we fight for what we deserve.
That fight goes on– and it may still require further mobilization, so stay alert and ready for possible action over the next few weeks— but I take great heart in the power of our solidarity and unity, and you should too. We have much to be thankful for and celebrate this holiday season, in our mutual support and the help of our friends. I hope to be bringing good news in the near future about our contract negotiations, but meanwhile, may the spirit of the holidays and the strength of union lighten your heart.
