Legislative Conference Position on Merger
Item
CFE 7
LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE POSITION ON MERGER
The Legislative Conference believes the need for a united
voice for all members of the CUNY instructional staff is
greater than ever before. The Legislative Conference is com-
Mitted to make every effort to accomplish this end.
)
The importance of such unity is obvious in the face of the
regressive, anti-education actions of the State Legislature.
The irresonsible budget cuts which jeopardize the quality
of education at CUNY as well as the position of every member of
the instructional staff, add impetus to the need for unity.
The arbitrary actions of the CUNY administration further
dramatize the immediacy of this need.
Only united opposition to these forces will enable the
instructional staff to obtain a stronger contract that will
fulfill their needs, enhance their professional status and
improve the standard of instruction at the University.
The Legislative Conference therefore proposes:
#. to organize a united front to combat increased workloads;
2. to organize a united front to seek needed legislation;
3. to pool resources for the processing of grievances; ©
4. to pool resources for negotiating the next contracts;
5. to establish a standing liaison committee to accomplish
all of the above; and
6. to establish a joint ad-hoc committee to develop specific
plans for merger.
If the members of both organizations are to have confidence
in a proposed merger, hostilities must yield to demonstrable and
effective cooperation between the United Federation of College
Teachers and the Legislative Conference.
We believe that unity through merger of competing organiza-
tions cannot be brought about in a climate of continuing
antagonism. It can only come from a spirit of mutual trust.
A joint communique should be issued to this effect.
August 5, 1971
LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE POSITION ON MERGER
The Legislative Conference believes the need for a united
voice for all members of the CUNY instructional staff is
greater than ever before. The Legislative Conference is com-
Mitted to make every effort to accomplish this end.
)
The importance of such unity is obvious in the face of the
regressive, anti-education actions of the State Legislature.
The irresonsible budget cuts which jeopardize the quality
of education at CUNY as well as the position of every member of
the instructional staff, add impetus to the need for unity.
The arbitrary actions of the CUNY administration further
dramatize the immediacy of this need.
Only united opposition to these forces will enable the
instructional staff to obtain a stronger contract that will
fulfill their needs, enhance their professional status and
improve the standard of instruction at the University.
The Legislative Conference therefore proposes:
#. to organize a united front to combat increased workloads;
2. to organize a united front to seek needed legislation;
3. to pool resources for the processing of grievances; ©
4. to pool resources for negotiating the next contracts;
5. to establish a standing liaison committee to accomplish
all of the above; and
6. to establish a joint ad-hoc committee to develop specific
plans for merger.
If the members of both organizations are to have confidence
in a proposed merger, hostilities must yield to demonstrable and
effective cooperation between the United Federation of College
Teachers and the Legislative Conference.
We believe that unity through merger of competing organiza-
tions cannot be brought about in a climate of continuing
antagonism. It can only come from a spirit of mutual trust.
A joint communique should be issued to this effect.
August 5, 1971
Title
Legislative Conference Position on Merger
Description
In this document, the Legislative Conference (LC) lays out its position on a merger with its rival, the United Federation of College Teachers (UFCT). The LC came to the merger proposal most reluctantly as it had already been satisfied representing full time faculty and staff, a right which it had won in the initial collective bargaining elections of 1968. However, the UFCT had been pushing for a second bargaining election with the aim of forming a single unit of full and part time faculty and staff. Not sure it could win such an election, the LC proposed merger talks as an alternative. The negotiations allowed the LC to retain a veto over what would happen with the newly formed Professional Staff Congress (PSC), a preferable option to the uncertainties of a new election.
Creator
Legislative Conference
Date
August 5, 1971
Language
English
Rights
Obtained from Contributor - Copyright Unknown
Source
Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
Original Format
Diary / Correspondence
Legislative Conference. Letter. “Legislative Conference Position on Merger.”, CUNY DIGITAL HISTORY ARCHIVE, accessed March 10, 2026, https://stephenz.tailc22a4b.ts.net/s/cdha/item/440