Welcome to the Stony Brook BANNERHSC Chapter of UUP

The Largest Chapter in the State with over 3600 Members ...

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... and Going Strong !!

IN THE SPIRIT OF THE HOLIDAYS

support Holiday Donations to the Sayville Project for their clientele at their 14th Annual Holiday Party December 14, 2011. Clients of the Sayville Project are adults living with severe mental illnesses who reside in the greater Sayville and surrounding communities working to live productive and independent lives. Donations of gift baskets, adult gloves, wallets, toiletries, personal beauty items, gift cards or holiday treats would be greatly appreciated. SB HSC UUP will help collect items.

Negotiations update

The UUP negotiations team continues talks with the state. Read the latest update here

LIRR trip to NYC 12/10/11

On 12/10 the chapter is offering another discounted Long Island Ralroad. The train will be leaving the Ronkonkoma station at 9:40am and you can return wheneever you would like that day. The round trip ticket costs $9.00 per person and is due by12/1/11. Call UUP office for further information at 4-1505

Upcoming events

Saturday November 19

Pride and Solidarity in Action Annual Conference
2:30p in NYC (See Flyer here)

Saturday December 10
LIRR Trip to NYC

Thursday December 8
UUP Holiday Meeting
Galleria 

Watch for registration information

Chapter Election Results

The results are in from our recent chapter elections. This was a particularly exciting year. We had several contested races and even a runoff election. The following individuals will be the chapter officers beginning 6/1/11 through 5/31/13.

President: Carol Gizzi
Vice President for Academics: Bruce Zitkas
Vice President for Professionals: Carolyn Kube
Treasurer: Charles Hines
Secretary: Tina Manning
Part-time concerns Representative: Bill Giangarra

See the full election report here

December 2010 Discretionary raises

Click here

NEGOTIATIONS TEAM NAMED

THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE WAS COMMUNICATED BY UUP STATEWIDE PRESIDENT PHIL SMITH

Colleagues...

I know that there's been great anticipation about the Negotiations Team
for the next round of bargaining. Over the past weeks, I’ve worked
with Team members to insure that all is in proper order concerning
requirements for necessary time away from campuses to serve in this
important role. One dimension of the Team diversity is the inclusion of
two members who are contingent employees. This added some complexity to
the process until I was assured all would be able to serve. Late
yesterday afternoon, I received final assurances that no impediments
existed. So now, I can properly--and proudly--announce the Team, which
is listed below.

Please join me in welcoming the UUP Team and thanking them for their
commitment to the future of UUP. The upcoming issue of "The Voice" will
feature the Team and the upcoming negotiations process. This issue
should be in your hands in the next couple of weeks.

In Union...

Phil

_______
Jamie Dangler, Cortland (Academic), Chief Negotiator
Mike Smiles, Farmingdale (Academic), Associate Chief Negotiator
Mike Behun, Buffalo Center (Professional)
Edison Bond, Brooklyn HSC (Professional)
Charles Callahan, III, Brockport (Academic)
Ray Dannenhoffer, Buffalo HSC (Professional)
Patricia Ghee, Buffalo State (Professional)
Fran Goldman, Binghamton Univ., (Professional)
Richard Kelder, New Paltz (Professional)
Carolyn Kube, Stony Brook HSC (Professional)
Mike Lyon, Upstate Medical Univ. (Academic)
Pamela Malone, Empire State College (Professional)
J. McDermott, Oneonta (Academic)
Bob Rees, Alfred (Academic)
Jason Torre, Stony Brook (Academic)
Anne Weigard, Cortland (Academic)

The team will be traveling to the various campuses in the fall with visits to Stonybrook occuring in November. In advance of the visits please download and review the form below. The data collected will be used by the team in negotiations.

Member suggestion form

 

Spring Delegate Assembly Happenings

The 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 order

NYSUT succeeds in halting governor's illegal furlough plan

Good 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.

Read the decision

UUP Press release

 FOR 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 Information

From 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

 

Smoking Policy Update

UUP update to smoking policy

Dec 2009 Discretionary raises

Click here

HERE WE GO AGAIN!!

Cuts endanger future for thousands
UUP: SUNY slashed by budget cut

ALBANY – The $90 million budget cut unilaterally imposed on the State University of New York by the governor will irreparably harm a public university system that has already endured massive reductions. That warning today from Phillip H. Smith, president of United University Professions, the union that represents academic and professional faculty at SUNY.

“The latest reduction goes beyond draconian,” Smith said. “It means SUNY will likely be forced to deny access to thousands of students by scaling back on its student admissions and enrollments. That would leave thousands of New Yorkers with no place to go for an affordable, public college education.”

Smith said the impact goes far beyond individual students and their families. He said the repercussions extend to the entire state’s economy.

“SUNY is one of the state’s major economic engines,” Smith said. “It makes no sense to disinvest in SUNY at a time when the economy is already reeling.”

Smith said SUNY had already endured its share of budget reductions, beginning with midyear cuts in 2008 of $148 million, representing 25 percent of the cuts taken against state agencies. The University lost $172 million in state support in the 2009-10 state budget, bringing the overall cut to SUNY – including today’s cuts – to an astounding $410 million. That figure amounts to a 25-30 percent reduction in the amount of state support that would have been otherwise available to SUNY.

“We strongly urge the governor to reconsider this latest round of cuts to SUNY and reverse course to eliminate the spending reduction,” Smith said. “The future of thousands of New Yorkers and the future of the state’s economy may well rest with his decision.”

Election Results for Professional Evaluation Review Committee

9/25/2009 Election Results
Professional Evaluation Review Committee
Name Votes Rank Order
Tina Manning 102 1 Elected
Bruce Kube 85 2 Elected
Carolyn Kube 81 3 Elected
Joan Brady 39 4
Irene Stern 38 5
Michael Bonvento 37 6
Dennis Caruana 34 7
Kenneth MacDowell 27 8
Rhonda Cooper 26* 9
Benjamin Williams 26* 10
Patrick Fritz 21 11
Beverly Campbell 14 12
Bill Giangarra 13 13
Baljit S. Moonga 11* 14
Elisa M. Nelson 11* 15
* By Lottery

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 ITEMS

Governor and legislative leaders meet in Albany

(Watch the video)

HSC Chapter Participates in the Walk for Beauty

HSC Member receives Living the Legacy award from AFT

Paybill update

Funding crisis update

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

UUP Contract Ratified

ORP law to be implemented.

 

Recent Additions

UUP Benefits presentation

BJ's signup forms available

NYSUT Legislative updates

Car rental discount cards

 

Click the image below to access the current and prior issues

Bridges

February '10 issue now online