Over 30,000 faculty and staff members at the City University of New York (CUNY) are set to receive wage increases and bonuses, pending the ratification of a tentative labor agreement with the Professional Staff Congress (PSC). This agreement, spanning nearly five years from March 1, 2023, to November 30, 2027, enhances compensation and benefits for employees across CUNY's campuses. The increases include retroactive and future raises totaling roughly 13.37% over the period of the contract, and a lump-sum bonus of up to $3,000, Gothamist reported.

Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez expressed satisfaction with the agreement, stating, "Full-time and part-time faculty and professional staff are at the heart and soul of the CUNY system, responsible for fulfilling our mission to provide a high-quality public education to all students, regardless of background." This deal aims to quickly reinforce the commitment to the institution's educators and staff. As reported by CUNY's press release, the benefits of the deal also include an increase in adjunct lecturer pay starting in 2026, and extended paid parental leave from eight to 12 weeks.

The PSC, CUNY's faculty and staff union, will still need to ratify the agreement for these changes to take effect. According to a report by Gothamist, the union’s delegate assembly will soon deliberate upon the proposal, potentially leading to a broader member vote. PSC President James Davis stated, “By securing better pay and working conditions, stronger benefits and additional equity raises for adjuncts and our lowest-paid full-time colleagues, we are making CUNY a better place to work and learn.” 

Earlier this year, CUNY announced another labor contract for over 10,000 other employees, encompassing custodians, college assistants, and public safety officers among others. If the current labor proposal is ratified, it will mean that all of CUNY's unionized workforce will be operating under collective bargaining agreements, CUNY confirmed. Notably, some issues like paid parental leave for part-time staff and terms for graduate assistants are yet to be addressed, but it appears both CUNY and the PSC are committing to continue discussions on these topics under the new contract.

CUNY notes that the university serves as a significant engine of social mobility in New York City, with a mix of quality and affordability that has a strong track record of propelling low-income students into the middle class. The new labor agreement, as it stands, appears designed to further strengthen this institution by investing in the workforce that drives its mission.