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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 24, 2016

DC 37 delivers thousands of signatures to Gov. Cuomo calling for full CUNY funding

Union applauds City Council resolution in support of CUNY workers

As state budget negotiations continue in Albany, District Council 37 leaders and activists today delivered to Gov. Cuomo’s NYC office the names of more than 5,000 City University supporters who have signed a petition urging state lawmakers to fully fund CUNY.

The Governor’s January budget proposal called for shifting $485 million from the state to the city in funding obligations.

“These signatures demonstrate the strong sentiment among New Yorkers to fully fund CUNY,” said DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido. “For thousands of New Yorkers, CUNY’s quality, affordable higher education provides a path to upward mobility.

Union officials also applauded a New York City Council resolution passed Tuesday, March 22nd which “calls upon the Governor and the State Legislature to increase State funding to the City University of New York and to reach a fair labor agreement with the University’s faculty and staff in the 2016-17 New York State Executive Budget.”

“We are grateful for the support of Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Committee on Higher Education Chair Inez Barron and all the members of the City Council for supporting this vital struggle,” Garrido said.

The State Legislature has to pass the FY’ 2017 budget by April 1.