Randi Weingarten Denies Mercy to PSC Membership

Randi Weingarten, president of the United Federation of Teachers, the union representing New York City's schoolteachers and the nation's largest teachers' union, has denied my plea for a mercy takeover of the Professional Staff Congress.

I had written a letter to Weingarten suggesting that the UFT take over the representation of the faculty of the City University of New York, which is presently represented by the failed Professional Staff Congress. Due to both lack of bargaining power and poor leadership the faculty of CUNY has seen its salaries decline from among the highest in the country thirty years ago to among the lowest today.

Sadly Ms. Weingarten refuses to attempt a friendly or hostile takeover of the PSC unit. In her snail mail letter, she states that the PSC is a sister union and that I should consider becoming active in the PSC.

Nah. I've got enough lost causes on my hands.

An Open Letter to Randi Weingarten, President of the United Federation of Techers

203 Watson Hollow Road
PO Box 130
West Shokan, New York 12494

Ms. Randi Weingarten, President
United Federation of Teachers
52 Broadway
New York, NY 10004

Dear Ms. Weingarten:

I am an associate professor at Brooklyn College, a campus of the City University of New York (CUNY). At present, the Professional Staff Congress, a NYSUT unit, represents the CUNY faculty. The Professional Staff Congress, in part for reasons of lack of bargaining power and in part for reasons of poor leadership has been unable to bargain effectively with the State and City of New York.

I wanted to inquire if the UFT would consider an unfriendly takeover of the PSC's unit based on a unit decertification/certificaton. Alternatively, would you consider contacting the leadership of the Professional Staff Congress and suggesting a friendly merger of the UFT and PSC?

Sincerely,


Mitchell Langbert