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Joint Statement of Dr. Belle Zeller, Chairman of the :
Legislative Conference of the City University and Dr. Israel Kugler,

President of the United Federation of College Teachers (AFL-CIO),

March 29, 1972.

Our respective policy-making bodies have adopted an agreement
to merge our organizations into a new organization to represent the
entire Instructional Staff. This agreement is to be ratified by our
respective memberships by secret ballot referendum. The results will
be known by April 14. We are confident that the membership will fol-
low the overwhelming recommendation of the respective governing
bodies. As leaders of the two organizations, we strongly urge our
members to close ranks.

We have both agreed that in the face of the onslaughts against
the City University staff from without and within, we must unite
our ranks, build our forces, gain the maximum affiliated strength
from the National Education Association, the American Federation of
Teachers, the United Teachers of New York State, the New York State
Teachers Association, the New York State AFL-CIO and the New York
City Central Labor Council. tle welcome the power that will accrue
to us by association both with organized labor and a united teaching
profession. ;

For too long we have been rivals, needlessly dissipating our
human and fiscal resources. Now we will concentrate on making the
City University an institution of quality education and enlarged
Opportunity under conditions in which we as professional staff
members can do an effective job.

We shall bargain as one with the City University Board of
Higher Education to establish specific and sound standards with
respect to our workload. We want to deal with our students as
individuals rather than ciphers lost in the lonely crowd of jam-
packed classrooms, libraries, counselling offices.

We must bargain effectively to overcome the secrecy and
authoritarianism that is present in too many areas of CUNY. We
shall establish due process, academic freedom, and democratiza-
tion in all areas affecting the Instructional Staff.

We have to negotiate the end of cheap labor practices which
permit CUNY to employ professional staff members as an economic
underclass which undermines morale and quality education.

We must preserve the integrity cf all programs in CUNY,
fully staffed with adequate facilities.

We serve notice upon the CUNY administration and government
authorities that the City University educators have turned a new
page in history. We are embarking on a new course of activism,
progressivism and responsible militancy.

We call upon all of our colleagues to join us to build our
united strength.