Vol. 31, No.1                                                      March 29, 2006

THE NEW CAUCUS CRAWLS ALONG

On the defensive about frittering away time and resources to pursue a fringe political agenda, the New Caucus has issued new talking points. Last week, treasurer candidate Michael Fabricant assured New York Sun readers that the New Caucus "can talk and chew gum at the same time." NC stalwart Peter Ranis gave the same line to posters on YorkTalk: "A union worth its salt can walk and chew gum at the same time."  

As Walter Mondale famously asked Gary Hart, "Where's the beef?" While other municipal unions long since have settled, CUNY profs have now gone more than 40 months without a contract---leaving our Dear Leader, PSC president Barbara Bowen, to battle "Jolly Roger" Toussaint for the honor of the city's most incompetent labor leader. The New Caucus leadership can't "walk," much less chew gum.  

A major reason, of course, for the crawl toward a contract settlement is the bitter aftertaste left by the New Caucus' flavor of gum. The Dear Leader recently revealed, "We are in a political situation. We're not at GM or Perdue Chicken where we're negotiating against a private employer. We're negotiating against the city and state." It's taken her six years to figure this out?!

Given that "we're negotiating against the city and state," how did comparing the agenda of city and state political leaders to that of far-right Colombian paramilitaries move the PSC closer to a contract? How did organizing a conference linking our contract woes with "massive military aid" to Israel or donating union dues to radical anti-Israel groups help the PSC with state Democrats, who are almost all pro-Israel? How did endorsing the 2005 primary challenge of a sure loser like Public Advocate candidate Norman Seigel enhance PSC access to the city Democratic leadership?  

Maybe the Dear Leader should seize control of Perdue Chicken's union. She couldn't do any worse.

"FOGGY" OBFUSCATION

PSC V-P Steve "Foggy" London has long since become the leadership's designated laughingstock, summoned to utter the leadership's least credible claims.

More than three weeks ago, CSI professor Dorothy Lang requested that the New Caucus document its breathless allegations of "illegal" acts by the CUNY Alliance. Lang was told that she would receive proof only if she dropped by union headquarters in midtown Manhattan. When Lang inquired about this odd demand, Foggy got testy:

Prof. Lang,

In my response, I told you I was happy to show you a copy.  That offer stands.  I have similarly arranged to show others who have asked. According to Fund legal counsel, I cannot place into circulation even a redacted copy without first informing and getting the agreement of the other Trustees.  I am doing that, but it will take time.  Therefore, at the moment, I am not free to fax or email you a copy. I may show you a copy, however, and that I am willing to do.  So, please call me so we may make arrangements.

I hope you realize that what the CUNY Alliance did was put the Fund in legal jeopardy.  I do not want to do anything that will compound that problem.  I know we have our political differences, but I am sure you would want me to act prudently when it comes to our common interest in the Welfare Fund.

Sincerely,
Steve London

Lang, unconvinced, again asked for verification. When Foggy ignored this wholly reasonable request, she sent the exchange to The Patriot Returns.

Dear Prof. London,

The New Caucus has PUBLICLY accused the CUNY Alliance of illegal actions, but has refused to make public any supporting evidence. Your refusal to make public this evidence in any form or to take legal action against the CUNY Alliance undermines the credibility of the accusation and the New Caucus itself.  PSC members are entitled to a full explanation of the following:

1) The March 6 e-mail sent by the New Caucus states that the CUNY Alliance committed ILLEGAL actions by removing documents from the PSC office and posting them on its website.  Has the New Caucus initiated legal action against CUNY Alliance?  If not, why not?

2) You have stated that according to the Fund's legal counsel, you cannot place into circulation even a redacted copy of the website posting without first getting agreement from the Trustees. However, it is unclear how a document with no names could possibly violate anyone's rights and result in legal liability. What is this attorney's explanation of how "legal jeopardy" would result from circulation of the redacted document? Moreover, why haven't you e-mailed this explanation to PSC members, who are entitled to know why you have failed to provide evidence for your serious allegations against the CUNY Alliance?

3) Finally, you state that you are working to get approval of the other Fund Trustees to circulate the redacted copy of the CUNY Alliance web posting.  Your allegation against the CUNY Alliance was first made two weeks ago!  In this electronic age, obtaining responses to a consent form should take at most a couple of days, not two weeks.  Will the New Caucus make a commitment to post this evidence on its website and e-mail it to all PSC members at least a week before election ballots are sent?

To date, the New Caucus has provided neither evidence in support of their allegation against the CUNY Alliance nor compelling reasons for failing to provide this evidence. Thus, PSC members will be forced to conclude that the New Caucus' charges against the CUNY Alliance are without merit.

Your truly,
Dorothy Lang

The NC's failure to substantiate their allegations is especially noteworthy in view of their recent promise to take the "high road" in this election campaign. If this represents the high road, spare us from the low road!

THE "WORKER-FRIENDLY" PSC

An earlier newsletter discussed some of the peculiar new firms solicited for Welfare Fund business by Foggy and his fun-loving sidekick, "Luau Larry" Morgan. But nothing prepared us for a recent newswire item.

As part of their initiative to weaken the prescription drug benefit to cover the health-care costs they moved to adjuncts, Steve and Larry switched all CUNY prescription drugs to a Las Vegas-based company called Medco. It turns out that Medco is now threatening to lock out 500 employees in a contract dispute. Said a company spokesperson, "Rather than continue to work under the uncertainty of not having a contract in place, which includes labor instability and the risk of a work stoppage, meaning they could call a strike, the company made a decision to start operating the pharmacy with a contingency staff."

Solidarity forever!

Sharad Karkhanis, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus

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