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The Largest Chapter in the State with over 3400 Members ...
... and Going Strong !! Spring Delegate Assembly HappeningsThe 2010 spring Delegate assembly was held 5/13- 5/15 The delegates at the UUP spring Delegate Assembly received an update on the governor's proposed furlough plan as well as voting in elections for 3 officers and 5 executive board seats. As reported earlier the Northern District Federal Court granted a temporary restraining order preventing enactment of the governors illegal furloughs. The arguments are to be heard on 5/26 and at tht time a final decision will be rendered. Some of you may have heard that the unions have been unwilling to talk to the governors office to arrive at a solution to the problem. Well, in actual fact the governor did not contact UUP to talk and when his office was contacted there was no willingness to negotiate. So, consequently no solution was attained. However, to be sure this plan does not rear it's ugly head again, call your legislators and tell them to pass a budget. They have had since January to work things out and it's 6 weeks late. Federal Judge issues temporary restraining orderNYSUT succeeds in halting governor's illegal furlough planGood news came late Wednesday as a federal court in Albany issued a temporary injunction to stop until May 26 the governor's abitrarily imposed plan to furlough many state employees for one day a week until the state's multi-billion dollar deficit is closed. NYSUT recently filed legal actions seeking injunctions on behalf of its higher education affiliates. Keep it pointed to NYSUT.org for additional info.
Call your legislatorTake the time to call your legislators and tell them to pass the budget and include some revenue generating ideas from abetterchoiceforny.org. There are many ideas that can be used to plug the 9.2 billion $ deficit. UUP Press releaseFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 11, 2010 UUP files lawsuit, takes other legal action to stop furloughs ALBANY – United University Professions, the union that represents academic and professional faculty at the State University of New York, today filed suit in federal court in Albany against the furloughs included in the emergency spending bill approved by the Legislature. The lawsuit charges the furloughs are unconstitutional because they violate Article 1§10 of the U.S. Constitution that prohibits states from passing legislation that impairs contract obligations. The suit also alleges the furloughs call for unequal treatment under the law, directing most state employees to take an unpaid day off while exempting management confidential employees and private contractors. The furloughs are expected to recur each week until a new state budget is approved. UUP will seek a temporary restraining order as part of its federal lawsuit, seeking to block the furloughs from taking effect as scheduled during the week of May 17. "We cannot stand idly by and let the governor unilaterally cut our member's salaries by 20 percent," UUP President Phillip H. Smith said. "We should not be forced to bear the burden of the state's fiscal problems nor be treated as the scapegoat." Smith said UUP is initiating other legal action against the furloughs, including the filing of an improper practice charge with the Public Employment Relations Board. UUP charges the state is violating the Taylor Law requirement that the state must negotiate terms and conditions of employment. UUP is also filing a grievance with SUNY charging that the furloughs violate four articles in UUP's current contract, including one that bars management from reducing members' salaries. "We have a legal and binding contract with the state," Smith said. "The state does not have the authority to walk away from the contract and throw SUNY into turmoil, at a time when faculty are giving final exams and grading papers." UUP is urging its members to mobilize by visiting their local lawmakers or writing to them through letters located on the union's Web site thanking those who voted against the furlough and urging them to vote against the inclusion of furloughs in any future emergency spending bills. UUP represents 35,000 academic and professional faculty on 29 New York state-operated campuses, and is an affiliate of New York State United Teachers, the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.
Latest Furlough InformationFrom statewide UUP President Phil Smith:
The Governor has announced his plan to move forward with attaching the furlough plan to the upcoming Emergency Spending Bill, due next Monday. We expect that the Legislature will go ahead and pass the Bill, otherwise the business of NYS will halt. Indeed, the Senate Democrats have indicated they will vote to pass this bill. The Assembly hasn't expressed an opinion, but I expect they will go along. Otherwise, they would be criticized for having caused NYS to grind to a halt. I'm aware that there are a number rumors and speculation out there. Overly anxious news reporters have generated some of this. And some of it is genuine confusion over the clarity of the Bill's language. For example, there's been some speculation that furloughs would apply only to employees in the Classified Service--i.e. mainly CSEA- and PEF-represented employees. However, it is clear from the Governor's position that furloughs will affect ALL state employees--except "Management/Confidential employees or employees who are 100 percent federally funded." If the Emergency Spending Bill, containing furlough language, is passed next Monday (May 10), the furloughs will go into effect beginning May 17. And, depending on the language of the Bill, they may continue on an on-going basis until a State Budget is in place. Paychecks will be reduced by 20% per week, beginning in the Pay Period that the reduced work occurred. PLEASE NOTE: At this time it is IMPOSSIBLE for UUP to advise on what specific jobs/titles will be affected. According to a memo from the Division of Budget (see below), agencies are to work with their assigned budget examiner to identify those jobs exempted that are related to security, public safety, and direct health care. BUT...agencies are expected to maximize savings by minimizing the number of exempt titles. So that you can see the direct information with your own eyes, I've provided a link the Budget Policy & Reporting Manual memo, as well as the exact text. Please see this below. What will be UUP's response? As you can appreciate, we've been trying all avenues of political pressure to dissuade the Governor from this wrongheaded approach. That has failed. And we understand the pressure that the Legislature is under to deal with the on-going fiscal crisis. Our entreaties to legislative leaders are met with understanding over the concern for our members. But they are essentially "boxed in." by the Governor's tactic. What should you do regarding this furlough plan? First and foremost, if you are directed by management that you are on furlough, we recommend that you comply with this order. If you are not directed to stay home, you should report to work. When this Furlough Plan is enacted, UUP will respond with the full arsenal of Contract Grievances, Improper Practice Charges, and Legal Filings that are available to us in both state and federal venues. Rest assured we will do whatever we can to hold the Governor responsible for this egregious act. In Union... Phil http://www.budget.state.ny.us/guide/bprm/bulletins/b-1189.html
CHAPTER MEETING 5/12 General Membership Meetings Wednesday May 12, 2010 12:00- 1:00 PM Topic: Furloughs, lag pay, state budget: Refreshments will be provided
LIRR TripSaturday 5/22/10 Depart @9:40 am Seats are limited, register early Attention ERS/ TRS retirement system members: Gov. Paterson has introduced a program bill to create a one-year 55/25 early retirement option for NYSUT members. This bill -- S6972 sponsored by Sen. Diane Savino and A10065 sponsored by Assemblyman Peter Abbate -- will implement the early retirement option agreed as part of the 2009 Tier 5 legislation. Here's a letter you can send now to support the bill.
Help prevent the deconstruction of public higher education and healthcareVisit www.savesuny.org and send a message!! Pass on the URL to students, family and other concerned individuals Smoking Policy UpdateDec 2009 Discretionary raisesAcademic Lecture Series Update
HERE WE GO AGAIN!!
Election Results for Professional Evaluation Review Committee
The Professional Evaluation Review Committee is a joint labor management committee that is composed of 3 UUP members elected by the membership and 2 representatives from management appointed by the university president. The committee is charged with reviewing, upon timely request, any evaluation that is summarized as unsatisfactory or one tha is summarized as satisfactory but the content is deemed unsatisfactory. For mor information about this committee Refer to the collective bargaining agreement Appendix A-28 NEWS ITEMSGovernor and legislative leaders meet in Albany HSC Chapter Participates in the Walk for Beauty HSC Member receives Living the Legacy award from AFT Open letter from Phil Smith regarding UUP paybill Phil Smith visits the HSC chapter to call members to action UUP kicks off first chapter blood drive Carolyn Kube Elected to Statewide Executive Board Professional workshops big success NYSUT Specialist discusses air quality issues
Recent AdditionsUUP Benefits presentationClick the image below to access the current and prior issues
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