Double Think on Unity: Vote UFCT
Item
Double Think on Unity
More than 5,500 members of the Instructional Staff at the City University disagree with the Legislative
Conference allegation that a collective bargaining. election this spring is untimely and disruptive. They
signed the petition of the United Federation of College Teachers for a new election.
This election will be held under the provisions of the Taylor Law which cover procedures for decertifying
an established bargaining agent. Hearings before PERB will, in all probability, be completed in February and
the election held in April, five months before the contracts expire. Every member of the Instructional Staff
will be guaranteed the right to vote by secret ballot for the bargaining agent. This right was won by the UFCT
over the vehement objections of the LC.
The unity of the Instructional Staff will be assured if PERB rules in favor of the UFCT’s position: one unit
for the entire Instructional Staff—not two, not three, but one unit.
Rather than obfuscating the issues of the election campaign with double-think about the meaning of unity
(a third organization and two units do not unify anything), the LC might attempt to defend its record:
@ The loss of sabbaticals. @ The loss of CUNY Grants.
@ The loss of tenure for Instructors. e Failure to halt burgeoning class size and
e Failure to achieve a ratio of 10-30-30-30 in Reneteiney ane.
professorial ranks. e Failure to police the contract.
If the LC wants real unity, it can join the UFCT in asking PERB for one bargaining unit for the entire In-
More than 5,500 members of the Instructional Staff at the City University disagree with the Legislative
Conference allegation that a collective bargaining. election this spring is untimely and disruptive. They
signed the petition of the United Federation of College Teachers for a new election.
This election will be held under the provisions of the Taylor Law which cover procedures for decertifying
an established bargaining agent. Hearings before PERB will, in all probability, be completed in February and
the election held in April, five months before the contracts expire. Every member of the Instructional Staff
will be guaranteed the right to vote by secret ballot for the bargaining agent. This right was won by the UFCT
over the vehement objections of the LC.
The unity of the Instructional Staff will be assured if PERB rules in favor of the UFCT’s position: one unit
for the entire Instructional Staff—not two, not three, but one unit.
Rather than obfuscating the issues of the election campaign with double-think about the meaning of unity
(a third organization and two units do not unify anything), the LC might attempt to defend its record:
@ The loss of sabbaticals. @ The loss of CUNY Grants.
@ The loss of tenure for Instructors. e Failure to halt burgeoning class size and
e Failure to achieve a ratio of 10-30-30-30 in Reneteiney ane.
professorial ranks. e Failure to police the contract.
If the LC wants real unity, it can join the UFCT in asking PERB for one bargaining unit for the entire In-
Title
Double Think on Unity: Vote UFCT
Description
This flier was created by the United Federation of College Teachers (UFCT) in January 1972 and was designed to appeal to voters in an upcoming collective bargaining election for CUNY instructional staff. The election sought to establish a single bargaining agent for CUNY staff, doing so by pitting the UFCT against its rival the Legislative Conference (LC). The flier advocates for the UFCT and criticizes their opponent's record.
CUNY administration, meanwhile, had hoped for three separate bargaining units in an attempt to divide full-time, part-time, and non-classroom staff. The election advertised on the flier, however, never took place as members of the two unions agreed in April 1972 to merge into the Professional Staff Congress (PSC).
CUNY administration, meanwhile, had hoped for three separate bargaining units in an attempt to divide full-time, part-time, and non-classroom staff. The election advertised on the flier, however, never took place as members of the two unions agreed in April 1972 to merge into the Professional Staff Congress (PSC).
Contributor
Professional Staff Congress
Creator
United Federation of College Teachers
Date
January 1972 (Circa)
Language
English
Rights
Obtained from Contributor - Copyright Unknown
Source
Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
Original Format
Flier / Leaflet (1 or 2 page handout)
United Federation of College Teachers. Letter. “Double Think on Unity: Vote UFCT.”, CUNY DIGITAL HISTORY ARCHIVE, accessed March 10, 2026, https://stephenz.tailc22a4b.ts.net/s/cdha/item/430