THE PATRIOT RETURNS |
Vol. 42, No.3 November 27, 2008
Budget Problems?
Newspapers, television, radio and the internet are fraught with news about budget cuts, layoffs, reduction of personnel, bail-out packages, and economic disasters in the country and around the world. From automakers, Wall Street offices and Fortune 500 companies to small businesses such as shoe stores and haircutting salons, we know of layoffs and belt-tightening. At CUNY, the University Faculty Senate is sending us messages from the Governor about cuts in education budgets; Chancellor Goldstein is almost weekly updating us about the impending budget crisis and its consequences to the future of CUNY, Mayor Bloomberg is talking about laying off hundreds of city workers; and college presidents are working on cost reduction budgets. We hear of doing more with less, except at the PSC office. We have searched the October and November issues of the Clarion to see if we can find anything that can tell us how the PSC leadership is planning to deal with the budget crunch. We perused issues of This Week in the PSC and the PSC website and found not a thing about budget cutting measures at the PSC Office. Now it occurs to us that perhaps there are no budget problems at the PSC offices. That may be why our dues money continues to pay for Labor Goes to the Movies: every Friday! Have they ever shared the movie budget with you? For that matter, who and how many go to these movies? What amount is paid for the weekly refreshments? The "Peace and Justice" Committee is working full speed passing resolutions and participating in demonstrations against the war. The "Solidarity Committee" is busy searching out trouble spots around the world so the PSC can send its own to "hot spots" at our expense. (Aruba, anyone?) We are wondering who paid for the transportation and living expenses of volunteers in Pennsylvania? And who paid for the elaborate victory party at the PSC offices? We understand that this was all funded by YOU AND ME - our hard-earned dues dollars! While layoffs are imminent for part time faculty and possibly non-tenured full-timers, life at your union is as good as ever! Oh, right. We forgot! While thousands of CUNY instructional staff members are witnessing the destruction of their pensions, the PSC Executive Council led by Barb and Steve is reported to be discussing RAISING OUR DUES! Can't see through the fog? The Chancellor's Report has complete listings of appointments, promotions and other information about you and me. But we never know who makes what at the union office. Neither do we know the exact amount of released time given to their people, including PSC officers. What are Barbara and Steve paying themselves in summer salary, stipends and travel? Do we know their travel budget? Have they reduced expenses on food orders for breakfasts, lunches, dinners, hats, t-shirts, travel for demonstrators, marchers and hangers-on? Does every meeting and gathering have to include elaborate food? Is it not time for them to place this information on the PSC website? At this time of year, we certainly don't need any more gobbledigook. If you take time to look at the PSC website http://www.psc-cuny.org/, you will discover Barbara and Steve's utter contempt for transparency, and how clever they are at covering up. Take Budgets. At the PSC website (http://www.psc-cuny.org/documents.htm) you will find under 2008-2009 CUNY Budget, the New York State Executive Budget and the testimonies of Bowen and London. But when you go to the PSC Budget, you will find a PSC Budget for 2004-05 and 2005-06 only! We are now approaching 2009. Why are they hiding the 2006-07 and 2007-08 budgets and the 2008-09 proposed budget? Why indeed? Further examples of contempt for us, the members: Let's take DA Resolutions. If you go to DA Resolutions at the PSC website (Click Here) we see resolutions from 2000 to 2007 with last resolution being September 25, 2008. Why has the PSC posted only the September 25, 2008 resolution about supporting striking workers at Stella D'Oro and no other resolutions of that year? Does it mean that there were no other resolutions passed at the DA since January 2008? Now, if you scroll down a little more and click on PSC Positions and Related Documents (Click Here), resolutions listed there are only up to 2006. Why is there a lack of information about DA resolutions? Why are they not posting all resolutions passed by the DA? Are there any resolutions they want us not to know about? What are they hiding? PSC Executive Council Resolutions are not posted after 2003. Are we to understand that the Executive Council conducted all its business for the past five years without ever passing any resolution? Perhaps, we may as well abolish the Executive Council. Curiously, if you click on (presumably the Oct. 25, 2003 Demonstration in Washington to End Iraq Occupation, a link under EXECUTIVE COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS) (here), you are not going to find the pictures of the demonstration in D.C. against the war, but rather an announcement for a call to join in an informational picket line for "Contract Now" before the Trustees meeting at Baruch College on Monday, October 25th. Question: How much money is being doled out to the Webmaster to do such an incompetent job? Who is supervising him/her? Is he/she related to any of the officers? If the PSC cannot keep its web site up to date and correct, how can we trust them to keep our salaries and benefits up to date? It is time that the PSC post each semester's allocation of stipend money and released time on its web site. This information should be public knowledge, particularly since WE the members are paying for it. No Transparency at the PSC There is no transparency at the PSC because "foggy" casts a fog of concealment about everything these turkeys do! Bowen screams in the Clarion about the fat salaries of the Chancellor and of College Presidents. But have we ever been told how much money Bowen, London, Fabricant and DeSola make? They get CUNY salaries, PSC stipends, summer pay, travel and food money, and have PSC credit cards. What are they paid for sitting on the NYSUT board? What is Barbara's additional salary from AFT? Does she tell you how much (sic) time she spends on PSC related business and how much time she and sidekick London spend on scheming, planning, organizing and demonstrating? When will they publish their full compensation - in a PSC President's Report, similar to the Chancellor's Report? Why do they hide information about Released Time enjoyed by PSC officers and other cronies who are supposed to be working on our behalf -- including those who spend their time at the movies at our expense. This is our money. We have a right to know. Betcha the PSC will not forego its Christmas Party for Non-Believers at 61 Broadway. Absolutely no respect for the workers around the country who have lost their jobs and will not have happy holidays. Although they may be close to being our national bird, some turkeys are very dangerous to democracy.
Happy Thanksgiving The Patriot
Sharad Karkhanis, Ph.D.
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