Official Publication of United University Professions n The Nation’s Largest Higher Education Union Working For You

THET September/October 2014

Labor on the move — Page 12 THE What ’s inside Voic e this issue Volume 42, Number 1 The VOICE is the official publication of United University Professions (UUP), bargaining agent for the more than 35,000 academic and professional 4 Unions to seD: Address the issues employees of the State University of New York. COvEr PhOtO BY UUP, NYsUt and Professional staff Congress/CUNY DONALD FELDstEIN are dismayed by sED’s reluctance to discuss edtPA. Contact UUP at P.O. Box 15143, Albany, New York 12212-5143. Telephone (518) 640-6600 or toll-free at (800) 342-4206. UUP’s Internet site 18-19 UUp awards seven members is www.uupinfo.org. UUP is Local 2190 of the American Federation of Teachers (AFL-CIO) three longtime UUPers will receive the union’s and is affiliated with NYSUT and the National on the cover: Nina Mitchell Award for Distinguished service. Education Association. UUP also honors two courageous part-timers Union pride! with Fayez samuel awards, and two outstanding UUP STATEWIDE OFFICERS 14—the UUP officers lead hundreds of retirees with Pearl h. Brod awards. FREDERICk E. kOWAl members down the streets of Manhattan President to showcase the union’s strength, 20 students earn UUp scholarships solidarity and willingness to defend UUP recognizes one undergraduate and two post the work of UUP members. baccalaureate students with scholarships of $2,000 J. PhIlIPPE AbRAhAm for academic excellence and community service. Also, the Labor Day parades kicked off Vice President UUP’s campaign to get pro-education, for Professionals pro-labor candidates elected—page 6 24 contingent issues in the fore UUPers join hundreds of full-time and part-time contingent employees from the U.s., Canada and JAmIE F. DANglER Mexico to discuss employment practices in higher ed. Vice President Letters poLicy for Academics The Voice welcomes timely ALso : letters about university and union issues, politics and other events 3 to the point: Every vote counts EIlEEN lANDy relevant to UUP’s concerns. All 11 Outreach Committee plans for year ahead Secretary letters are subject to editing for 16 UUP hires It associate, legislative interns length, accuracy and clarity. Please type or email your letters, 15 UUP urges release of abducted former member ROWENA J. limit them to 300 words, and 17 Who’s who: Chapter presidents blACkmAN-STROUD include your name and daytime 22 spotlight shines on UUPers Treasurer phone number for verification. Unsigned letters will not be 23 hBO’s ‘Girls’ films on the New Paltz campus published. 26 UUP Benefits outlines what’s available EDISON bOND JR. Email letters to UUP Interim Membership Director of Communications Development Officer Michael Lisi at [email protected] or send them to his attention at: The Voice , United University Professions, P.O. Box 15143, UUP COMMUNICATIONS DEPT. Albany, New York 12212-5143. mIChAEl lISI Did you know you can Interim Director of Communications read The Voice online at kAREN l. mATTISON Publications Specialist FOllOw UUP uupinfo .org DONAlD FElDSTEIN Media Relations Specialist Just click on Th?e Voice On FacebOOk icon on the Home Page ANgEll m. lAW and TwiTTer ! Communications Assistant

Members who would prefer to read The Voice The VOICE is a member of the American Federation Go to www. UUPinfo.org online are able to opt out of receiving the magazine of Teachers Communicators Network and the by mail. Go to http://uupinfo.org/voice/optout.php International Labor Communications Association. to sign up today. or call UUP Communications for more information.

2 The Voice SepTember /o cTober 2014 To the Point Vote, volunteer for change

cannot stress strongly VolunteeR! enough how important Over the next few weeks, it is for you, as a union I, along with your statewide member and as an Ameri - officers, will be traveling to Ican, to go to the polls on Tues - campuses in districts with key day, Nov. 4, and cast your vote. races. We’ll be there to urge our Do it. members to consider voting for Vote. NYSUT-endorsed candidates and The right to vote, to freely to recruit volunteers to help pro- choose those who will lead us labor, pro-education candidates without fear of reprisal, is a right win or stay in office. that Americans have fought to A number of candidates that gain and defend since this great we worked for in the September country was established more than primary have told me that they two centuries ago. deeply appreciated our help. These days, far too many Amer - I’m looking forward to working icans take voting for granted. with them. Many more think that their vote We will have friends in Con - doesn’t matter. gress, and the state Senate and That’s nonsense. With your Assembly. I believe that together, votes, you have the power to elect we can achieve positive change. candidates who are pro-education, pro-labor advocates who believe michael liSi giV e to Vote-cope in a strong, working middle class To do that, we need you to get UUp p reSidenT Fred Kowal hopeS eVery UUp member will and a vital public higher education involved. And you won’t be alone. VoTe For endorSed candidaTeS in The noVember elec Tion . system. Your union leaders will be working right along with you. RegisteR now If you don’t have the time to vol - If you haven’t registered to vote, do it. support the issues that we support—a unteer, you can help by opening your There’s still time. vibrant SUNY, union jobs with fair pay wallet and contributing to VOTE-COPE, In New York, you have until Oct. 10 to and benefits, and a strong working class. NYSUT’s nonpartisan action fund. file a voter registration application with VOTE-COPE dollars are used to support your local board of elections; mail shoe leatheR campaigns NYSUT-endorsed candidates and their applications must be postmarked by That’s why UUP members across the campaigns. Oct. 10 and received by Oct. 15. state have been working since late sum - It is vital that UUP members contribute Before you enter the voting booth, mer as volunteers for candidates backed to VOTE-COPE to help us work for can - I hope that you will consider pulling the by NYSUT and the state AFL-CIO. didates who solidly support public educa - lever for candidates endorsed by NYSUT You’ll read about them in this issue. tion and labor. and the New York State AFL-CIO. UUP You’ll also read about how we kicked But it all starts with one word: vote. doesn’t endorse candidates, but our lead - off our November election campaign with If you haven’t registered to vote, regis - ers played a part in selecting candidates a show of strength at the Sept. 6 New ter. If you’re registered to vote but didn’t for NYSUT and the state AFL-CIO to York City Labor Day Parade. More than vote in last year’s election or the Septem - support. Both unions issued their en dorse - 300 members, family and friends ber primary, make a point to get to the ment lists in August; they can be viewed marched in the Manhattan parade, one polls Nov. 4. on the UUP website at www.uupinfo.org. of the America’s premiere Labor Day One vote—your vote—can change the Labor and public education is under marches. Members also marched course of history. attack. The middle class is steadily erod - in parades in Buffalo and Syracuse Do it. ing, the unemployment rate continues to on Labor Day. Vote. hover around 6 percent, and there are too Maybe you were there. If you were, many low-paying jobs. thank you! If not, join us next time. We need to elect representatives who We want you with us.

SepTember /o cTober 2014 T he Voice 3 UUP front unions to seD: get it right

by Karen l. m aTTiSon participate,” Dangler said. Fig hting back The unions—UUP, NYSUT The task force was established by UP, its state affiliate, and Professional Staff Congress/ the state Board of Regents in April and its sister union CUNY—are disappointed by under the threat of legislative inter - at CUNY are SED Commissioner John King’s vention into SED’s botched imple - “dismayed and disregard for the concerns raised mentation of a new teacher perfor- Udiscouraged” by the way the by unionists since the task force mance assessment and other certifi - State Education Department is was convened in July. cation requirements. handling a task force it set up to In separate correspondences to Following discussions with review one of the state’s new King and Deputy Commissioner NYSUT, the Regents provided a teacher certification require - John D’Agati, the unions ques - safety net that delays full imple - DANglER ments, the educative Teacher tion if SED is truly willing to mentation of the edTPA. It also Performance Assessment. work collaboratively and produc - allows teacher candidates who “We cannot—we And the unions are not inclined tively to “address the unfair and fail that exam to use a passing will not—participate to sit back and allow SED to jeop - educationally unsound teacher score on the Assessment of Teach - in an SED ruse ardize a generation of future teach - certification changes imposed by ing Skills-Written test for initial ers or the state’s public teacher SED without adequate faculty designed to ensure certification through June 30, education programs. input,” Dangler said. 2015. Crucial to the agreement that no significant If things don’t improve—and “The task force must be allowed was the formation of a task force changes are made.” quickly—UUP will consider to discuss the critical issues of “education stakeholders” walking away from the task around the edTPA and its imple - — VPA Jamie Dangler charged to review the edTPA and force, said Vice President for mentation,” said Dangler, chair of its implementation. Academics Jamie Dangler. the union’s statewide Teacher Ed - Before the task force’s forma - “What happens at our next ucation Task Force. “We need to tion, SED had been unresponsive task force meeting will deter - act, and act now, because students’ to serious concerns about new mine if UUP will continue to careers are at stake.” teacher education directives and top 10 concerns seD must address to ‘get it right’ Wholesale changes in the state’s initial There are technical problems associated with SED’s TEACH 1 teacher certification requirements— certification 3 system, the electronic portal that teacher certification candidates including content and implementation denied! must use to register for and maintain their record of completion for problems—have left an unprecedented number certification exams, required workshops and fingerprint clearance. of 2014 graduates in danger of not getting Technical glitches in SED’s system for student record-keeping and certified. The 2015 graduates may be in a inadequate personnel to process applications for certification require- similar situation. ments have caused problems for 2014 graduates entering the job mar ket. Among the general problems are: • Premature implementation timelines for new certification requirements. • Exams tied to Common Core for students whose curriculum has Students in the 2014 and 2015 graduating classes had their not reflected Common Core changes. 4 college requirements changed substantially after they entered • Increased student failure rate on new exams because of inadequate their programs; college programs have not had enough time to make timelines to adjust curriculum and prepare students. adjustments to adequately prepare students. • SED’s failure to address student/faculty problems and questions in a timely manner. The edTPA safety net is unfair to teacher candidates who fail the edTPA. Candidates who pass the edTPA are free to There are four new high-stakes teacher certification exams, three 5 pursue their initial teacher certification at any time in the future. of which took effect in 2014: the educative Teacher Performance 2 In contrast, those who use the alternative ATS-W test under the Assessment, Educating All Students exam, and the Academic Literacy safety net established by the Regents are unfairly bound to an Skills Test. The fourth exam—Content Specialty Tests—will be changed unprecedented June 30, 2015, deadline for completion of all during this academic year. CST preparation guides have not been program and teacher certification requirements. posted; practice tests were not released in a timely fashion.

4 The Voice SepTember /o cTober 2014 inflexible about the unrealistic deadlines simple fixes,” Dangler said. “SED is outlined ways to improve the work of the imposed on teacher ed programs. stonewalling us, but we’re not going away.” task force and to ensure that major issues The unions left the first task force meet - Difficulties with student placements, are addressed. ing in July with the impression that King the lack of study on the predictive valid - Among them are requests to: was unwilling to allow full discussion of ity of the edTPA, the effectiveness of • Provide data on edTPA pass rates substantive problems with New York videotaping in K-12 classrooms, and by institution, program area, and sub - state’s use of the edTPA. a lack of faculty oversight of edTPA- groups of students participating in the as - “We had hoped this task force would … mandated curriculum changes are some sessment. Presentation and discussion of serve as a constructive vehicle for review - of the problems teacher educators are fac - this data should be an agenda item to pro - ing and refining the assessment in order to ing (see Top 10 list, below.) vide a common empirical basis for task move toward a more rational use of the UUP, NYSUT and PSC are mapping force members and to determine the need edTPA,” NYSUT Vice President Catalina out an action plan to deal with edTPA for specific revisions. Fortino wrote in a letter to King. “We were shortfalls. The plan includes expanding • Add to the agenda three subcommit - dismayed at the dismissal of our concerns its coalition of teacher educators and tees to discuss the following: Reliability and our suggestions that task force mem - professionals from public and private col - on New York’s edTPA and feedback to bers discuss operating procedures and leges, students and parents to pressure candidates on reasons for their scores; scope of work.” legislators, the Regents and SED to ad - use of the edTPA as a high-stakes assess - UUP has also hit a brick wall with four dress the problems faced by teacher can - ment; and difficulties securing place - Freedom of Information Act requests for didates and teacher preparation programs. ments, issues of privacy, and unequal edTPA pass-rate data. The last request, filed NYSUT is also developing a “Tell distribution of resources. in July, asked for pass-rate data on two Your Story” webpage to collect testimony • Discuss problems associated with the other mandated certification exams teacher from students, parents, faculty and other edTPA safety net. educators are concerned about—the Edu - teacher education professionals who • Clarify the amount of faculty assis - cating All Students exam and Academic have direct experience with certification tance to teacher candidates. Literacy Skills Test, both tied to Common issues. The testimonials will be shared • Commit to a final report from the task Core. As The Voice went to press, none of with Regents and lawmakers. force with recommendations to the Regents. the information was provided. “We cannot—we will not—participate “The problems with recent changes calling FoR change in an SED ruse designed to ensure to teacher certification are bigger than In a recent joint statement to Deputy that no significant changes are made,” acknowledged by SED and go beyond Commissioner D’Agati, UUP and PSC Dangler said.

There is a lack of transparency with the new certification exams. Student costs for exams and other requirements 6 • The edTPA handbooks outlining requirements and curriculum 8 have risen substantially to an average of $1,000 changes constitute proprietary information. Faculty and students for initial certification. must sign proprietary information agreements; college curriculum review committees have not been able to review curriculum changes Students have reported difficulties taking exams in the related to the edTPA. Handbooks have been ambigu ous and do 9 new, electronic format. Students may not be able to scroll not provide adequate information, such as how much feedback back to check information needed to answer questions once they instructors can give teacher candidates. advance to the next screen. This is a radically different format than • Full content of the Academic Literacy Skills Test and Educating standard exams; it is considered unreasonable by teacher All Students exam has not been made available to faculty by SED educators to expect students to memorize dense content before for review. Faculty have had to pay to take the exams to find out answering questions related to that content. what questions are being asked. • EAS and ALST are tied to Common Core. Students in the Students are falling through the cracks in a disorganized sys - 2014 and 2015 graduating classes were not taught a Common 10 tem of new SED requirements. Some December 2013 and Core-aligned curriculum and are unprepared for the content May 2014 graduates, who have paid for and completed their college on these exams. degrees, faced costly retakes. Others were denied initial certification for missing deadlines or requirements, often caused by technical glitches or lack of clarification from SED. There are serious concerns with the content of all new teacher • Various components have different effective dates and new certification exams. To date, SED has relied on top-down 7 technical processes. decision-making that has not involved enough consultation with • Many implementation details were being worked out by SED faculty with expertise in all content areas. as they were being applied to students.

SepTember /o cTober 2014 T he Voice 5 November election working to make a difference in november by michael liSi ble state-run public hospi - went door-to-door with cam - tals and medical schools, paign literature for Hamil - t’s about helping old friends and and an end to attacks on ton. Abraham, a native of making new ones. It’s about public employees—will Haiti, spoke Haitian supporting public education and help create that change. Creole to three men on protecting jobs and the hard-fought “We look forward to Nostrand Avenue as spoke Igains UUP has won for its members. working with legislators about Hamilton. Treasurer And it’s about getting out the vote on from both sides of the Rowena Blackman-Stroud, Election Day. aisle who win in November,” Downstate Medical Center Those are the union’s prime objectives said Kowal. Chapter president, volunteered that for the November election, and UUPers So far, the union’s efforts have paid off. day for Hamilton in ’s Crown across the state have been working since Eight labor-endorsed candidates in the Heights neighborhood with other UUPers. late summer to make them happen. Sept. 9 Democratic primary elections won Dozens of Downstate UUPers also spent From Buffalo to Albany and Potsdam to the party’s nomination. That includes a the better part of a month making phone calls Stony Brook, UUP leaders and volunteers big victory in Brooklyn, where Jesse and canvassing for Hamilton in their neigh - have been going door-to- borhoods throughout Senate District 20. door handing out campaign literature, plac - woRking in the west ing campaign signs and In Buffalo, UUP members have can - making phone calls for vassed and worked phone banks for pro-education, pro-labor several candidates, including Kennedy, candidates. Peoples-Stokes and Mark Mazurek, a The push has just Democrat running for the vacant 143rd begun. UUPers, along District Assembly seat. with hundreds of volun - “We’ve got boots on the street working teers from locals across these local races,” said Buffalo Center New York, are already Chapter President Tom Tucker, who said hard at work for Buffalo HSC Chapter President Ray candidates endorsed by Dannenhoffer and Buffalo State Chapter NYSUT and the New President Rich Stempniak have stepped up York State AFL-CIO in to help out. “It’s a new world politically the November election michael liSi for us. We’ve got to get people out there to (see the list of endorsed Vpp p hilippe abraham , righT , canVaSSeS on a SUnday in brooKlyn volunteer for candidates who support labor To gaTher SUpporT For STaTe SenaTe candidaTe JeSSe hamilTon . candidates, page 9). and public higher education.” UUP President Fred Kowal and the union’s statewide leaders Hamilton trounced opponent Rubain laboR Day might are traveling to campuses in districts with Dorancy for the 20th District Senate seat The union kicked off its November key races to recruit members as volun - left vacant in 2013 by Brooklyn Borough election push with a show of strength teers and to volunteer themselves. President Eric Adams. at the Sept. 6 New York City Labor Other primary winners were Sens. Day Parade. More than 300 members, a cRucial ta sk Toby Ann Stavisky and Tim Kennedy, family and friends marched in the This work is imperative, especially with Assemblyman William Magee and parade, one of the America’s premiere the state’s chilly political climate when it Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes. Labor Day marches. comes to public employees. As the nation’s “This is the kind of result we were Members also marched in parades in largest higher education union, UUP is looking for,” said Kowal. Buffalo and Syracuse on Labor Day. looked to as a catalyst for positive change Kowal, Abraham and Blackman-Stroud in New York and nationally on issues out in the stReet met with Western New York candidates affecting labor and public higher education. UUP was in Brooklyn volunteering for after the Buffalo parade; Secretary Eileen Electing candidates who will step up and Hamilton on a recent Sunday before the Landy, Membership Development Officer fight for issues UUP espouses—such as a primary. Kowal and statewide Vice Presi - Edison Bond Jr. and upstate chapter vibrant, accessible SUNY, financially sta - dent for Professionals Philippe Abraham members talked to U.S. Rep. Dan Maffei,

6 The Voice SepTember /o cTober 2014 below , o neonTa chapTer leaderS bill SimonS , and Fred miller , righT , worK To re -elecT STaTe aSSemblyman william magee .

phoTo coUrTeSy : eSc c hapTer

eSc c hapTer memberS poSe wiTh aSSembly candidaTe , FronT . F rom leFT are chapTer aSSiSTanT KaTe yaddaw wiTh UUp erS John ValeTTa , S herri newell , preSidenT pamela malone , g len Keller , K aThy cole , T ina healey and TreaSUrer donna carey .

phoTo coUrTeSy : o neonTa chapTer Carrie Woerner, who lost her 2012 bid for can be viewed at http://goo.gl/5lKjfe; the the seat to longtime Republican incum - AFL-CIO list is at http://goo.gl/LcruwA bent Tony Jordan; Jordan resigned in and http://goo.gl/nwTY0D. who’s running for re-election in the 24th 2013 after he was elected Washington “We need our members to step up and Congressional District. County District Attorney. help us work for candidates who support “Public higher ed is under attack and “We’re working for candidates who are our issues and believe in organized labor, we’ve got to elect people who support like-minded and who work for the good of a strong SUNY and the benefit of a us,” said Oneonta Chapter President Bill society,” said Malone. “When we show up quality, accessible public education,” Simons, who has volunteered for Magee in our red UUP shirts at a campaign open - said Kowal. “But we can’t do it alone. with veteran Oneonta UUPer Fred ing event, a candidate’s going to remember We need you to get involved.” Miller. “Our mission transcends the us and we’ll have a better relationship bread-and-butter issues of our members. with her when she gets into office. She’ll We need to elect people who won’t remember that we’re working hard for the deconstruct this great institution known community, like she is.” as SUNY.” VolunteeR anD Vote empiRe state pRess There is still plenty of time for UUP Empire State College Chapter President members to volunteer to help labor-backed Pamela Malone said she’s got volunteers candidates in their area. Members can working on key races in Buffalo, contact their chapter president or reach Rochester, downstate and in the Capital out to UUP Coordinator of Legislation Region. That’s where she’s been focusing Rob Trimarchi at (800) 342-4206 or at her efforts. [email protected]. Chapter Vice President for Profession - Those who can’t volunteer can still do als Reynolds Jones, Malone and other their part by voting on Election Day. volunteers have posted signs and made Union leaders said they’re hopeful that calls for state Sen. Cecilia Tkaczyk, members will consider pulling the lever who faces a tough opponent in Republi - for candidates endorsed by NYSUT and phoTo coUrTeSy : p laTTSbUrgh chapTer can George Amedore. Tkaczyk beat Ame - the state AFL-CIO. Lists of candidates dore by less than 20 votes in 2012. endorsed by NYSUT and the AFL-CIO plaTTSbUrgh memberS daVe cUrry and paTTy Malone said she’s also working for are available on the UUP website, at benTley poSe wiTh incUmbenT aSSemblywoman 113th District Assembly candidate http://www.uupinfo.org. The NYSUT list JaneT dUprey , cenTer .

SepTember /o cTober 2014 T he Voice 7 November election uup plays role in nysut, aFl-cio endorsements by donald FeldSTein

UP President Fred Kowal didn’t mince words in describing the importance of this year’s elections. U“The events of the next few months will decide our future,” he said. “We need to work to elect people we can depend on, and defeat the enemies who would vote against us. Our survival is at stake.” Against that stark backdrop, Kowal and about 25 UUP leaders worked to identify candidates to support, coming together donald FeldSTein with unionists at the NYSUT endorsement UUp p reSidenT Fred Kowal , righT , addreSSeS Union leaderS and oFFicerS TaKing parT in The nySUT e ndorSemenT conFerence , a Ug . 12 in albany . UUp alSo played a Key role conference Aug. 12 in in The aFl-cio’ S commiTTee on poliTical edUcaTion conVenTion , a Ug . 18 in new yorK Albany, and at the state ciTy . l eFT , nySUT p reSidenT Karen magee Said VoTing recordS are Key To endorSemenTS . AFL-CIO’s Committee on Political Education Convention Aug. 18 in New York City. labor,” said NYSUT President Karen NYSUT supported in the 2012 election In Albany, they joined mAgEE Magee. “They earned our support by won election, said NYSUT Executive more than 400 of their advocating effectively for our public Vice President Andrew Pallotta. NYSUT sisters and schools, colleges and health care institu - With that success, NYSUT and UUP brothers, who voted on a slate of candi - tions, listening intently to the concerns were able to achieve what Pallotta called dates for NYSUT to endorse in state and and aspirations of our members, and vot - several “major victories,” including the Congressional races. ing consistently the right way.” Legislature’s rejection of a plan that could Kowal encouraged UUP members to have led to the privatization of SUNY no cuomo enDoRsement volunteer to work for candidates endorsed Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn. NYSUT’s Board of Directors met by NYSUT and the AFL-CIO, particularly In election years, thousands of NYSUT Aug. 13 to finalize the endorsement those running for the state Legislature. members go door-to-door for candidates, recommendations (see list, page 9); “Now is the time to show these candi - speaking with voters, making phone calls they backed a bipartisan slate of nearly dates that UUP is a strong presence that is from the state’s largest phone-banking 200 state and Congressional hopefuls. able to make a difference in a tight elec - operation, and attending campaign events. The AFL-CIO made their endorsements tion,” said Kowal. “Regardless of party The AFL-CIO reaches members at public Aug. 18. affiliation, we must work to elect pro- home via mailings, phone banks and NYSUT and the AFL-CIO declined to education, pro-labor candidates that will fliers. The federation also has its “labor endorse a candidate for governor. Dele - be there to help us stand tall for our mem - to neighbor” program, where union lead - gates from UUP and NYSUT helped bers, our union and our University.” ers visit local members to talk about convince the labor federation to pass on a “These elections will go a long way to specific races. gubernatorial endorsement. In late August, determining what happens with our “Union members from throughout the The New York Times declined to endorse budget next year, and then, down the state will work together in a coordinated Gov. . road, our negotiations for a new collec - effort to ensure that all of our endorsed NYSUT and the AFL-CIO endorsed tive bargaining agreement,” he added. candidates—and, in turn, our agenda Comptroller Tom DiNapoli and Attorney that puts workers and their families General Eric Schneiderman for re-election. enDoRsement beneFits first—are successful on Election Day,” “Candidates who earn endorsements NYSUT endorsements make a differ - said New York State AFL-CIO President are friends of public education and ence. Ninety percent of the candidates Mario Cilento.

8 The Voice SepTember /o cTober 2014 nysut, aFl-cio endorsement recommendations for 2014

Below is the complete list of 21 Kevin Parker* 21 No endorsement 86 Victor Pichardo* 22 No endorsement 22 No endorsement 87 Luis Sepulveda* NYSUT endorsements. Candi - 23 Diane Savino* 23 Phillip Goldfeder* 88 dates marked with an asterisk* 24 Andrew Lanza* 24 * 89 J. Gary Pretlow* were also endorsed by the New 25 Velmanette Montgomery* 25 * 90 Shelley Mayer* York State AFL-CIO. 26 Daniel Squadron* 26 Ed Braunstein* 91 * 27 Brad Hoylman* 27 Michael Simanowitz* 92 Thomas Abinanti* GOVERNOR/LT. GOV. 28 Elizabeth Krueger* 28 * 93 * No endorsements 29 José Serrano* 29 William Scarborough* 94 Andrew Falk* COMPTROLLER 30 Bill Perkins* 30 Margaret Markey* 95 Sandra Galef Thomas DiNapoli* 31 Adriano Espaillat 31 * 96 Kenneth Zebrowski* 32 No endorsement at this time 32 Vivian Cook* 97 Ellen Jaffee* ATTORNEY GENERAL 33 Gustavo Rivera* 33 No endorsement 98 No endorsement Eric Schneiderman* 34 Jeffrey Klein* 34 Michael DenDekker* 99 James Skoufis* U.S. HOUSE 35 Andrea Stewart-Cousins* 35 Jeffrion Aubry* 100 * OF REPRESENTATIVES 36 Ruth Hassell-Thompson* 36 * 101 No endorsement 1 Timothy Bishop* 37 George Latimer* 37 * 102 No endorsement 2 No endorsement 38 David Carlucci* 38 Michael Miller* 103 Kevin Cahill* 3 Steve Israel* 39 William Larkin Jr.* 39 Francisco Moya* 104 Frank Skartados* 4 Kathleen Rice* 40 Justin Wagner* 40 * 105 No endorsement 5 Greg Meeks 41 Terry Gipson* 41 * 106 * 6 Grace Meng* 42 John Bonacic* 42 L. Rickie Tulloch* 107 Phil Malone* 7 Nydia Velazquez* 43 No endorsement 43 Karim Camara* 108 John McDonald III* 8 Hakeem Jeffries* 44 Neil Breslin* 44 James Brennan* 109 * 9 Yvette Clark* 45 No endorsement 45 * 110 Phil Steck* 10 Jerrold Nadler* 46 Cecilia Tkaczyk* 46 Alec Brook-Krasny* 111 * 11 No endorsement 47 Joseph Griffo* 47 * 112 James Tedisco* 12 Carolyn Maloney* 48 Patty Ritchie* 48 No endorsement 113 Carrie Woerner* 13 Charles Rangel* 49 Hugh Farley* 49 Peter Abbate Jr.* 114 Dan Stec 14 Joe Crowley* 50 No endorsement 50 Joseph Lentol* 115 Janet Duprey* 15 José Serrano* 51 James Seward* 51 Caesar Zuniga 116 Addie Russell* 16 Eliot Engel* 52 Thomas Libous* 52 117 17 Nita Lowey* 53 David Valesky* 53 * 118 Marc Butler 18 Sean Patrick Maloney* 54 Michael Nozzolio* 54 * 119 Anthony Brindisi* 19 Christopher Gibson 55 Ted O’Brien* 55 Lori Boozer* 120 William Barclay* 20 * 56 Joseph Robach* 56 Annette Robinson* 121 William Magee* 21 Aaron Woolf* 57 * 57 Walter Mosley* 122 Clifford Crouch* 22 Richard Hanna 58 Thomas O’Mara* 58 N. Nick Perry* 123 * 23 Martha Robertson* 59 No endorsement 59 Roxanne Persaud* 124 No endorsement 24 Dan Maffei* 60 Marc Panepinto 60 * 125 Barbara Lifton* 25 Louise Slaughter* 61 Elaine Altman* 61 Matthew Titone* 126 Diane Dwire* 26 Brian Higgins* 62 Johnny G. Destino 62 Joseph Borelli 127 Albert Stirpe Jr.* 27 No endorsement 63 Timothy Kennedy* 63 No endorsement 128 Sam Roberts* 64 Nicole Malliotakis* 129 * NYS SENATE NYS ASSEMBLY 65 Sheldon Silver* 130 Bob Oaks 1 Kenneth LaValle* 1 Jr.* 66 Deborah Glick* 131 * 2 No endorsement 2 Anthony Palumbo 67 * 132 Philip Palmesano* 3 Adrienne Esposito 3 Edward Hennessey* 68 Robert Rodriguez* 133 No endorsement 4 No endorsement 4 No endorsement 69 Daniel O’Donnell* 134 No endorsement 5 Carl Marcellino* 5 Alfred Graf* 70 Keith Wright* 135 Mark Johns* 6 No endorsement 6 * 71 Herman (Denny) Farrell* 136 Joseph Morelle* 7 No endorsement 7 Andrew Garbarino* 72 Manny De Los Santos 137 No endorsement 8 Dave Denenberg* 8 Jason Zove* 73 * 138 * 9 No endorsement 9 Joseph Saladino* 74 Brian Kavanagh* 139 No endorsement 10 James Sanders Jr.* 10 Chad Lupinacci* 75 Richard Gottfried* 140 No endorsement 11 No endorsement 11 Kimberly Jean-Pierre* 76 * 141 Crystal Peoples-Stokes* 12 Michael Gianaris* 12 Andrew Raia* 77 * 142 Michael Kearns 13 José Peralta* 13 Charles Lavine* 78 José Rivera* 143 Mark Mazurek 14 Leroy Comrie* 14 David McDonough* 79 Marsha Michael* 144 Jane Corwin 15 Joseph Addabbo* 15 80 Mark Gjonaj* 145 John Ceretto* 16 Toby Ann Stavisky* 16 Michelle Schimel* 81 * 146 Raymond Walter 17 No endorsement 17 Thomas McKevitt* 82 * 147 David DiPietro 18 Martin Malave Dilan* 18 No endorsement 83 * 148 19 No endorsement 19 Edward Ra* 84 No endorsement 149 Sean Ryan* 20 Jesse Hamilton* 20 Todd Kaminsky* 85 Marcus Crespo* 150 Barrie Yochim*

SepTember /o cTober 2014 T he Voice 9 November election uupers taking part in voter registration drives

by Karen l. m aTTiSon

he union is doing its share to register SUNY students, faculty and staff to vote in the November elections. TOnce again, the union is working JeFF ZUcKerman , nySUT VoTe-cope conSUlTanT , with NYSUT, the SUNY Student UrgeS UUp erS To SUpporT Assembly, the New York Public Inter - The Union ’S VolUnTary est Research Group and other organi - poliTical acTion FUnd . zations to distribute information and donald FeldSTein host nonpartisan voter registration events to encourage those who aren’t registered to do so. The deadline to uup: contribute to Vote-cope register is Oct. 10. “Getting stu - by donald FeldSTein contributions, and we must change dents involved that,” Kowal said. “VOTE-COPE is the in state and ooking for a reason to con - lifeblood of our political action pro - national elec - tribute to VOTE-COPE? gram. We all must take a stand if we tions is key Here’s one: Union bashing hope to beat back the attacks on public to UUP’s in Wisconsin. workers and public higher education. outreach, L“The only thing standing between “I urge each and every one of you who especially us and Wisconsin is VOTE-COPE,” have not already done so to give to given the attacks on public higher said Jeff Zuckerman, NYSUT’s VOTE- VOTE-COPE, and those who have, to education and rising student debt,” COPE consultant. Zuckerman, a former increase the amount you give.” said UUP President Fred Kowal. VOTE-COPE coordinator for NYSUT’s Members who would like to contribute “This year’s election is pivotal for Tarrytown Regional Office, made his to VOTE-COPE can complete the form public education and the labor move - pitch for donations to NYSUT’s volun - on the back cover of The Voice , or ment. We need to help enroll as many tary nonpartisan political action fund request a payroll contribution form academic and professional employees during the UUP Outreach Committee from their chapter office. and students as possible so we have a stronger voice in determining who Retreat, Aug. 10-11 in Albany. In related news, Jennifer Drake of Cort - will represent us in New York and on Zuckerman referenced Wisconsin Gov. land and Arty Shertzer of Stony Brook Capitol Hill.” Scott Walker’s success in stripping public Core are UUP’s UUP, NYSUT and the other organi - employees of collective bargaining rights new VOTE-COPE zations registered more than 10,000 to highlight the need for VOTE-COPE. coordinators. potential voters at SUNY state- “We get outspent 15-to-1 by corporate NYSUT agreed operated campuses prior to the general interests,” Zuckerman said. with Kowal’s re - election in 2012. UUP President Fred Kowal said UUP quest to have two Voter registration is the first of many contributed a mere $210,000 of the VOTE-COPE coor - steps UUP will take to ensure pro- $8.8 million donated to NYSUT’s dinators as one way labor, pro-education candidates are VOTE-COPE program in 2013. On DRAkE to help UUP spur elected. The union will kick off a get- average, UUP members contributed just more donations to out-the-vote drive designed to remind $7.08 to VOTE-COPE during 2013; the political action fund. voters to cast their ballots Nov. 4 , and NYSUT members, on average, They succeed Buffalo Chapter President will participate in NYSUT regional contributed $20.48 last year. Tom Tucker, who led UUP’s VOTE- phone banks in support of endorsed “UUP lags behind in political action COPE efforts for the last 12 years. candidates.

10 The Voice SepTember /o cTober 2014 Outreach efforts committee prepares for ‘crucial’ year ahead by donald FeldSTein

UP needs more advocates willing to volunteer their time to press the union’s priorities. UPresident Fred Kowal shared that statement with more than 60 Outreach Committee members at the committee’s annual retreat, Aug. 10-11 in Albany. Committee members strate - gized with union officers and considered issues to include in UUP’s 2015 Legislative Agenda. They also heard from political and organizational experts. Kowal challenged each committee member to recruit members as new activists to help the union pursue its donald FeldSTein legislative goals and expand on the aboVe , o neonTa ’S Kyle briTTon ShareS hiS ThoUghTS aT The UUp o UTreach commiTTee reTreaT . progress made earlier this year. Among Kowal’s goals is to protect criti - below , p UrchaSe chapTer preSidenT connie lobUr , cenTer , JoinS The diScUSSion . l iSTening cal health care services and jobs of UUP are UUp S ecreTary eileen landy , leFT , and UTica /r ome chapTer preSidenT linda weber . members at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and the future of the state-run public hospital in Brooklyn. Veteran activist Billy “If we can come up with a plan to fund Easton, executive direc - Downstate for the long term, we can end tor of the Alliance for this cycle of crisis. So we need to solve Quality Education, em - this problem once and for all,” he said. phasized the need for expeRt aDV ice UUP activists to attend On Aug. 11, chapter presidents joined campaign events for Outreach members to hear from political endorsed candidates. and community organizing experts. He encouraged members Political consultant Bruce Gyory to become politically assessed the state’s political landscape for active. the November elections. Gyory, who “Make it clear why served as senior advisor for former gover - you’re involved in a campaign. Motivate effective tool for political activists. One nors Eliot Spitzer and David Paterson, others to say this is a priority because way to build them: convince local groups said there was a possibility that control everything you’ve lived your life for is at that working together will help get their of the state Senate could change hands. stake in this election,” Easton said. message heard by lawmakers and the media. Republicans control the Senate, with aid There is strength in numbers, she said. from five senators who comprise the builDing coalitions It’s important to convey the importance Independent Democratic Conference. Former UAlbany Chapter member and of particular races and why your candi - Gyory said the outcome of eight or nine organizing advisor Martha Devaney dates are a good choice for coalition key elections will determine which party talked about the importance of forming members—especially those who may be will hold sway in the Senate. More fund - coalitions with community groups and or - on the fence about who to pull the lever ing for SUNY and stronger support for ganizations. Devaney, a former social for. Explain how losing a race might im - public higher education are in the balance. worker, business professor and marketing pact them, their families and their jobs. “If you want to have an impact on who professional, began working as a “grass - “Promote the feeling that getting out controls the Senate, work those races,” roots community organizer” in 2008. the vote is up to us, that the outcome Gyory advised. Community-based coalitions can be an makes a difference,” she said.

SepTember /o cTober 2014 T he Voice 11 laboR on the move

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12 The Voice SepTember/ocTober 2014 STOry by Michael liSi PhOTOS by dOnald FeldSTein and Michael liSi

oug Cody didn’t miss a beat when asked why he gave up his Saturday to march with UUP Din the New york City labor Day Parade. “I’m here today for one simple reason: labor,” said Cody, a Farmingdale Chapter member. “I believe in what we stand for, and we’re under attack. We can’t be under attack anymore. We’re going to take the front row seat, and we’re going to do it today.” UUP showcased its muscle at manhattan’s annual labor Day parade Sept. 6, one of America’s largest labor Day marches. hundreds of UUP members, family and friends from buffalo to Stony brook wore matching red UUP shirts as they marched 7 up Fifth Avenue on a sweltering, humid day with temperatures in the mid-90s. The union also made a strong showing Sept. 1, when dozens of members marched in labor Day parades in buffalo and Syra - cuse. And in Ithaca, Vice President for Academics Jamie Dangler addressed more than 300 unionists at the 31st annual midstate Central labor Council labor Day picnic. “We displayed our strength, our solidarity, and our willingness to literally take to the streets in defense of the work that we do,” said UUP President Fred kowal. “That’s why we 8 marched in buffalo and Syracuse, and why we brought hun - dreds of our members to march in New york City.” “This is about showing legislators and candidates, unions and locals in New york City and statewide that UUP is loud, we’re proud and that we can make a difference,” kowal continued. “We are the country’s largest higher education union. We will have our say when it comes to decisions that impact our members, and public education statewide and nationwide.” Read on for more parade coverage. 9

SepTember/ocTober 2014 The Voice 13 Labor on the move

he Labor Day parades in New York City, Syracuse and Buffalo marked the kickoff of UUP’s fall political campaign, Tand Kowal urged members who marched to volunteer to work for pro-education, pro-labor candidates and incumbents run - ning for office in November (see related story, page 6). More than 100 UUPers at the New York City parade filled out survey cards that listed ways to become involved, from vol - unteering at campaign offices and going door-to-door for NYSUT-backed candi - dates, to working at NYSUT phone banks. “There is no overstating the importance of this election to UUP and all of us who work at SUNY,” Kowal said.

kowal’s claRion call More than half of the union’s chapters were represented in the New York City parade, sponsored by the New York City Central Labor Council. Members from Albany, Buffalo, Canton, Fredonia, Os - wego and Syracuse traveled for hours by bus to the city, joining their sisters and michael liSi brothers from Downstate Medical Center, Empire State College, Farmingdale, Old The corTland chapTer marcheS in The labor day parade in SyracUSe . a mong The corTland Westbury and New Paltz, among others. conTingenT were STaTewide execUTiVe board member anne wiegard , d aVe riTchie , J en draKe and Jo SchaFFer . c arrying The chapTer banner are michelle Kelly and bill bUxTon . “It’s important to be here to show our support and solidarity, and to show that we’re strong,” said Canton Chapter mem - “Union power!” and “2, 4, 6, 8, UUP Pecorale and Catalina Fortino, and ber Sabel Bong. “We were called to show makes SUNY great!” and waved signs as Secretary-Treasurer Martin Messner our support and that’s why we’re here.” they marched 17 blocks up sun-drenched marched with UUP in the parade, Utica/Rome Chapter President Linda Fifth Avenue, handing pencils to parade which began at 47th Street and ended at Weber brought her 17-year-old daughter, goers who waved as they walked past. 64th Street. Executive Vice President Jasmine, to the march. The massive march drew more than 100 Andrew Pallotta joined UUPers before “It’s a critical time for the union, all of unions and locals, including the AFL-CIO, the parade began. the unions not just this one, and I think the United Federation of Teachers, the it’s necessary for people to see that Teamsters, the International Brotherhood upst ate pRiDe there’s a lot of support,” she said. “So I of Electrical Workers, and the United Auto The venues were smaller but no less wanted to loan at least a face and a body, Workers. Some unions had floats, buses subdued in Buffalo and Syracuse on and my daughter’s face and body.” and even cranes in the parade; others had Labor Day. During the parade, members fell in bagpipe and marching bands. UUPers from chapters including Cort - behind Kowal and the union’s statewide Kowal said UUP will participate in the land, Oswego, Potsdam and Upstate Med - officers—Vice President for Academics parade in 2015. ical University marched in the Syracuse Jamie Dangler, Vice President for Profes - “With this effort we are making history parade. Unionists chanted and carried signs sionals Philippe Abraham, Secretary folks,” Kowal said, speaking through a that said “Speak up for workers” and Eileen Landy, Treasurer Rowena Black - bullhorn to cheering members minutes “UUP in solidarity” as they marched. man-Stroud and Membership Develop - before UUP was set to march. “In the “Labor is under attack across the coun - ment Officer Edison Bond Jr.—who past, in the Labor Day parade, it was re - try,” said Landy, who led marchers in the carried a large banner emblazoned with ally Brooklyn, the Downstate Chapter, Syracuse parade. “We need to be part of the UUP logo. that carried our flag. Today, it’s all of us.” the larger labor movement.” Members chanted slogans such as NYSUT statewide vice presidents Paul see l a b o R D a y , page 16

14 The Voice SepTember /o cTober 2014 uup calls for return of former member abducted in 2011

by Karen l. m aTTiSon

arren Weinstein left SUNY Oswego as a tenured professor in the late 1970s, but he hasn’t been forgotten by his union. WThree years ago, Weinstein was abducted by al-Qaeda while working in Pakistan. UUP wants to help him come home. In August, the statewide Executive Board michael liSi directed UUP President Fred Kowal to demand aboVe , U pSTaTe medical UniVerSiTy UUp memberS proUdly carry The chapTer banner in The SyracUSe labor day parade . the U.S. State Department secure Weinstein’s From leFT are paUl STaSior , d aVe pecKham and bob FlUcK . release. Kowal has written letters to UUP’s statewide and national affiliates—NYSUT, the

below , UUp S ecreTary eileen landy , cenTer , JoinS oSwego American Federation of Teachers and the UUp erS aS They march in The SyracUSe parade . h olding The National Education Association—urging them banner are bill canning and chapTer preSidenT lori naSh . to press the State Department to take action to free Weinstein immediately. Weinstein, 73, was reportedly kidnapped Aug. 13, 2011, in Lahore, Pakistan, where he worked as a development advisor for J.E. & Austin Associates, a contractor to the U.S. Agency for International Development. Wein - stein has not been heard from since the release of a December 2013 video by As-Sahab, al-Qaeda’s media production company. He suffers from a heart condition and severe asthma and is in extremely poor health.

bRing waRRen home “Weinstein has devoted his life to helping oth - ers since he started working as a human rights activist in 1969,” Kowal said. “The last video released by the terrorists shows his health is deteriorating. We must bring him—and every U.S. citizen being held captive around the world—home safely now.” UUP’s call to action prompted a heartfelt note from one of Weinstein’s two daughters. whO ’S whO (in The PhOTOS On PageS 12-13) “Thanks for your call to action on Warren Weinstein’s behalf,” Alisa Weinstein wrote on 1: T hereSa Mcelwaine , P UrchaSe 2: F ive -year -Old JUlianna , daUghTer OF OneOnTa delegaTe kyle briTTOn the family’s Bring Warren Home Twitter page. 3: FrOM leFT , UUP O UTreach cO-chair arTy SherTzer , S TOny brOOk cOre ; “Your support means so much to our family.” TreaSUrer rOwena blackMan -S TrOUd ; and UFT P reSidenT Mike MUlgrew “This is what it’s all about,” noted Kowal, 4: O UTreach cO-chair TOM TUcker , b UFFalO cenTer who was moved by Alisa’s comments. “This is 5: UUP P reSidenT Fred kOwal why UUP has to get involved, and stay in - 6: J OSe crUz , a lbany , righT volved until one of our own comes home.” 7: c arOlyn kUbe , S TOny brOOk hSc eRs RemembeR 8: eleven -year -Old leila rOSe MarcillO -g OMez , daUghTer OF cObleSkill uup UUP MeMber MarilU MarcillO -g OMez Weinstein—a UUP member from 1973- 9: dOwnSTaTe Medical UniverSiTy chaPTer MeMberS PaUla whiTe , leFT , 1975—is remembered as a caring, dedicated and MargareT TaylOr , righT and generous colleague. see a b D u c t e D , page 27

SepTember /o cTober 2014 T he Voice 15 Labor on the move laboR Day continued from page 14 In Buffalo, Kowal and members from Albany, Buffalo Center, Buf - falo HSC, Buffalo State, Cobleskill, Downstate and Fredonia paraded to Cazenovia Park, where a Labor Day picnic was held. Kowal met with a number of NYSUT-endorsed candidates, including Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, state Sen. Tim Kennedy, and state Assembly members Sean Ryan, Crystal Peoples-Stokes. Dangler was the keynote speaker at the Midstate picnic. She urged unionists to get in - volved in important political campaigns in their districts and stand up to big-money adversaries that oppose labor. “We have to work within the House of Labor and we have to build and expand coalitions across our communities to fight back,” she said. “This Labor denniS STierer

Day should be a celebration for UUp e xecUTiVe board member eZra ZUbrow oF bUFFalo cenTer , leFT , marcheS wiTh TreaSUrer rowena working families.” blacKman -S TroUd , p reSidenT Fred Kowal and Vpp p hilippe abraham in The bUFFalo labor day parade . uup hires tech associate, two legislative interns by Karen l. m aTTiSon was an information technology intern with Ioxus Inc. in Oneonta. UP has hired a full- Garrity previously worked as a time technology asso - business development representa - ciate and two part-time tive with Empire State Develop - interns to help with the ment in Albany. Among her duties Uunion’s day-to-day business. were marketing and outreach for Josh Sprague, a May 2014 grad - the state’s Start-Up NY Program uate of SUNY Oneonta, joined SPRAgUE gARRITy lOOmIS and promoting Empire State de - UUP in August to assist Luke velopment to businesses. Williams, director of information technol - hours a week through the legislative ses - Loomis was an intern with Adirondack ogy. Sprague will handle database sion. They will track legislation, Council, where he lobbied on environmen - support, chapter website support and research and analyze issues for potential tal issues, tracked legislation and gathered maintenance, and desktop, printer and IT legislation, arrange visits to lawmakers’ news clips. Before that he was assistant equipment administration at UUP chap - offices, and perform other duties asso ciated deputy director for U.S. Sen. Chuck ters and the Administrative Office. with the union’s legislative efforts. Schumer, a political activist and fundraiser Gretchen Garrity and Cory Loomis also Sprague comes to UUP from IHS- for the New York State Public Interest Re - joined UUP in August; both are working GlobalSpec , where he worked as a market search Group, and a political strategist for on their master’s degrees at UAlbany’s development technologist. IHS-Global - Fredonia Mayor Stephen Keefe. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Spec is a search engine and information The internship is named in honor of the Policy. As John M. Reilly legislative resource for the engineering, industrial and late John M. Reilly, UUP president from interns, Garrity and Loomis will work 20 technical communities. Prior to that, he 1987-1993.

16 The Voice SepTember /o cTober 2014 Who’s who

Below are your chapter presidents on the front line and how to reach them.

albany alfred binghamton brockport buffalo center buffalo hSc bret benjamin earl Packard benita roth gary Owens Tom Tucker ray dannenhoffer (518) 442-4071 (607) 587-4271 (607) 777-5000 (585) 395-2547 (716) 645-2013 (716) 829-2540

buffalo State canton cobleskill cortland delhi downstate Medical rich Stempniak dave hartle bill Tusang bill buxton John Taylor rowena (716) 878-5732 (315) 386-7156 (518) 255-5205 (607) 753-5567 (607) 746-4079 blackman-Stroud (718) 270-1519

empire State eSF Farmingdale Fredonia geneseo Maritime Pamela Malone John view yolanda Segarra ziya arnavut Tabitha buggie-hunt barbara warkentine (518) 587-2100 (315) 470-6671 (631) 420-2180 (716) 673-3864 (585) 245-5112 (718) 409-7370

Morrisville new Paltz Old westbury Oneonta Optometry Oswego Plattsburgh Tom hogle Peter d.g. brown kiko Franco bill Simons ralph gundel lori nash karen volkman (315) 684-6195 (845) 257-2770 (516) 876-3345 (607) 436-3498 (212) 938-5868 (315) 312-3264 (518) 564-5305

Potsdam Purchase Stony brook Stony brook hSc System admin. Upstate Medical Utica/rome John cote connie lobur arty Shertzer carol gizzi John leirey Mike lyon linda weber interim (914) 251-6615 (631) 632-8948 (631) 444-1505 (518) 320-1470 (315) 422-5028 (315) 792-7165 (315) 267-2730

SepTember /o cTober 2014 T he Voice 17 Honoring excellence two earn ‘outstanding retiree’ awards

by Karen l. m aTTiSon steen: a ‘peRsuasiVe Committee and longtime member aDVocate’ FoR uup of NYSUT’s Committee of 100. or many people, retire- The same hard work and dedica- He is also chair of his chapter’s ment means leaving tion that earned Ivan Steen the Outreach Committee. work behind to travel, union’s Nina “Ivan has a knack for being per- spend time with family Mitchell suasive when arguing for more For to just relax. funds for SUNY,” said COARM Award Not so for Ivan Steen of Albany for Distin- Chair Judy Wishnia of Stony and Loraine Tyler of Oneonta. guished Brook. “His extensive knowledge “All of our 2014 For them, retirement has been a Service in about the political issues that drive award recipients seamless continuation of their 2001 earned state budget discussions makes him commitment to serve UUP and a valuable advocate for UUP.” represent the best him the Brod SUNY. And it’s why Steen and award this STEEN S of UUP—they are Tyler are the 2014 recipients of year. He is S tyleR: oneonta’s T T E committed to their the Pearl H. Brod Outstanding an unwavering voice for UUP and E ‘heaRt anD soul’ E E N Active Retiree Award. a staunch advocate for SUNY. N Loraine Tyler didn’t let retirement union, knowledgeable The award, presented by the Steen hasn’t missed a beat since slow her about our issues, and Committee on Active Retired retiring from UAlbany as an asso- down. Membership, honors an individual ready, willing and able ciate professor of history in 2010. Although who has provided exemplary He continues to serve as a UUP, she officially to work on our behalf,” service to UUP and SUNY after NYSUT and AFT delegate, and retired in said UUP President retirement. COARM recommends he’s a member of the UUP Schol- 2003 as a candidates; the UUP Executive Fred Kowal. “We are arship Selection Committee. He’s professor of Board makes the final decision. also UUP’s liaison to the Jewish human ecol- lucky to have them The award was renamed in 2011 Labor Committee. ogy, Tyler TylER on our side.” to honor the late Pearl Brod of But he’s at his best when he’s remained at Farmingdale, an academic delegate talking with lawmakers, whom he Oneonta for several years as a who served as a COARM regional meets with in their Albany offices student advisor. representative from 1993-2009, on a regular basis as a member of She is the quintessential unionist. and as chair from 1999-2003. the statewide UUP Outreach see R e t i R e e s , page 22 cody, mcDermott recognized for ‘courageous’ service awards at the 2014 Fall Delegate by Karen l. m aTTiSon Assembly in October in Albany. ontingent employment issues are a top priority for UUP, coDy’s causes due in large part to the Doug Cody is one busy adjunct; he’s efforts of part-time and taught one lecture and three lab sections Cfull-time employees who stand up for in chemistry at Farmingdale since 2006, themselves and other often-exploited and carries similar workloads at Nassau workers. CODy mCDERmOTT and Suffolk County community colleges. This year, two dedicated UUP mem - Yet, Cody’s hectic schedule and travel bers—Doug Cody of Farmingdale and Samuel of Farmingdale, an academic dele - among campuses haven’t kept him J McDermott of Oneonta—are being gate and pioneer in the fight for fair and from lending a helping hand to new honored for their achievements as equitable treatment of part-time employees employees. Working with a team of recipients of the Fayez Samuel Award at SUNY. Samuel, who retired in 2003, is a volunteers, Cody helped to develop a for Courageous Service by Part-time past chair of UUP’s statewide committee New-Hire Mentor Program that kicked Academic and Professional Faculty. The that deals with contingent issues. off this fall. The newly formed Mentor annual award is named in honor of Fayez Cody and McDermott will receive their see c o u R a g e o u s , page 21

18 The Voice SepTember /o cTober 2014 union honors three with distinguished service awards She has been a UUP delegate since 1973, Brook HSC Chapter delegate. “He is a by Karen l. m aTTiSon and was a member of the statewide Execu - principled leader who is always willing to former statewide officer and tive Board from 1984-1993. She was the put the needs of the members first.” two former chapter presi - first chair of the Scholarship Selection and dents who led with actions Women’s Rights and Concerns committees, meRbleR a DeVoteD uupeR rather than words will be and coordinated the first State/ UUP Joint Candy Merbler has spent the last Ahonored for their dedication to UUP with Labor/Management Committee to hand out 30 years in tireless service to UUP the 2014 Nina Mitchell Award for Distin - professional development grants. and the University. guished Service. Galbraith is co-chair of UUP’s Elections “I marvel at The recipients are Jeanne Galbraith of and Credentials Committee. She has been Candy’s ability to Stony Brook HSC, who served as state- a NYSUT and AFT delegate since 1978. not only run the wide secretary from 1987-1993; Edward “Not only has Jeanne contributed greatly day-to-day busi - Drummond, Stony Brook HSC Chapter to our union, she has always served as an ness of the chapter president from 1999-2008; and Candace example of how to conduct yourself as a for so many years, Merbler, Albany Chapter president from union leader,” said statewide Executive but also her will - 2001-2012. They are slated to receive Board member Carolyn Kube. ingness to serve as mERblER their awards at the 2014 Fall Delegate a University Sena - Assembly in October in Albany. DRummonD leaDs with ease tor and to take on so many roles across The distinguished service award was Ed Drummond is a soft-spoken leader established in 1989 to honor Nina with a powerful voice for UUP and the the campus,” said Albany Chapter Presi - Mitchell, a substance abuse counselor at Stony Brook HSC Chapter. dent Bret Benjamin. “She was tireless in SUNY Downstate Medical Center. “Ed Drummond her efforts to build a stronger union, and is the personifica - to make the university a better place to the ‘go-to’ gal tion of union val - work and learn.” If Jeanne Galbraith doesn’t know the ues of service, Merbler has served in numerous capaci - answer, she’ll find out. And she’ll do it integrity and soli - ties at the chapter and statewide levels. with quiet confidence and a broad smile darity, yet he Prior to her election as chapter president, on her face. would be the last to she served as vice president for profes - “Jeanne is a team player who is known ever mention his sionals from 1995-1996 and 1999-2001, for supporting others and bringing out the contributions. That, DRUmmOND and as treasurer from 1984-1995. She best in them as they labor to make UUP too, is Ed—quiet also chaired the Negotiations and Mem - work,” said UUP Elections and dignity and modesty,” said statewide Credentials Committee Chair Dave Kreh Secretary Eileen Landy. bership committees and was a member of Cortland. “She’s inspired many of us Drummond’s 40-year service to UUP of the Outreach and Parking committees. with her dedication to UUP and the larger began in 1974, when he was elected as an Statewide, Merbler was an Executive labor movement. Quite simply, she knows alternate delegate. He went on to serve as Board member from 2005-2007. She has her stuff and she gets things done.” chapter affirmative action officer, on the served on more than a dozen committees, Galbraith began her union activism in the Legislation and Membership committees. including Women’s Rights, Professional early 1970s as secretary for the Geneseo and as grievance chair. In 1997, Drum - Issues, Membership, Negotiations, and Fu - Chapter. She left in 1977 to take a job as a mond took over as chapter vice president ture of SUNY. She is a UUP, NYSUT and medical librarian at for professionals; in 1999, he became pres - AFT delegate, and a member of the Stony Brook HSC ident and served until his retirement as an statewide Outreach Committee. instructional support specialist in 2008. and quickly became Former Albany Chapter president Ivan involved with UUP He continues to serve as a UUP, Steen said he relied on Merbler for all there. Galbraith was NYSUT and AFT delegate, a member of things professional. He praised her as an elected Stony Brook the Finance, and Audit and Compliance HSC Chapter vice committees, and as chair of the Legal “outspoken, conscientious and generous” president for academ - Defense Fund. advocate for professionals at the chapter, ics in 1978, and took “Tenacious but always the consummate and as a “no-nonsense negotiator” in gAlbRAITh over as interim presi - gentleman, Drummond managed to navi - labor/management discussions. dent. She served as chapter secretary, on the gate the treacherous waters of labor/man - “Candy is the heart and soul of the chapter executive board, and as newsletter agement with skill and finesse, securing chapter (who) has devoted her professional editor until her retirement as a senior assis - many favorable outcomes for the mem - life to the union,” Benjamin said. “Her tant librarian in 2007. bers he served,” noted Bruce Kube, Stony commitment to UUP is beyond reproach.”

SepTember /o cTober 2014 T he Voice 19 Honoring excellence undergrad, graduate students awarded uup scholarships undergraduate programs and advisement treat sick animals. by Karen l. m aTTiSon in elementary education and reading at “Ms. Hanley is a bright, diligent and he three words that best Buffalo State. “She constantly strives to highly competent student,” said UUP describe the three recipients do her best in all she undertakes.” member Allen Yasgur, an adjunct professor of this year’s UUP College Gardner’s scholarly work focuses on of social work at Buffalo State. “Her ethi - Scholarships are perseverance, the impact of parental involvement on cal and social values are without question. Tdedication and service. children’s educational success. Her She truly believes in giving as much Earning the union’s 2014 scholarships research was accepted for presentation at service to people as her busy schedule for outstanding academic achievement the National Association of Professional will allow.” and commitment to social justice issues Development Schools’ national confer - Hanley also has a deep appreciation for are: Kaitlyn Gardner, a graduate student ence in March and at the Buffalo State unions. She grew up listening to her step - in childhood and early childhood educa - Research and Creativity Celebration in brother—a high school teacher and union tion at Buffalo State; Maura Hanley, a April. She has also submitted a proposal steward in Massachusetts—sing the praises senior majoring in social work at Buffalo to present her research at the Master’s of unions in bolstering the middle class. State; and Caitlin Janiszewski, a graduate Level Graduate Research Conference at “A union helps to protect workers from student in Latin American, Caribbean SUNY Brockport. being fired without due cause and pro - and U.S. Latino studies at the University She is a Graduate Student Association tects people from being treated unjustly,” at Albany. senator and chair of its Public Relations Hanley wrote in her application essay. “A The recipients will receive $2,000 and Marketing Committee, and the gradu - union protects people from prejudices and scholarships at the union’s 2014 Fall ate liaison to the Elementary Education biases, and gives workers the opportunity Delegate Assembly in Albany. Club. She supervised the Learning Disabil - for advancement through proper channels ities Association of Western New York’s instead of by favoritism or nepotism.” gaRDneR: a teacheR after school and children’s recreation pro - She has a 4.0 GPA. Kaitlyn Gardner is a former Teamster grams from February 2012 until December and United Food and Commercial Work - 2013, and before that was a second grade Ja niszewski: a leaDeR ers International Union member—and a teacher at the Del Sol Montessori Bilingual Caitlin Janiszewski rarely backs down future NYSUT mem - School in Honduras. from a challenge. ber who admits to Gardner has a 4.0 grade-point average. As president of the Graduate Student having a “vested in - Association at UAlbany since June 2013, terest in the contin - hanley: a helpeR Janiszewski has re - ual success of labor Maura Hanley wants to make a differ - instated the GSA unions.” ence. Her goal is to earn a Master’s grant program, “Labor unions en - degree in social work to better serve the strengthened ties sure health benefits, less fortunate in rural and inner-city with the Graduate gARDNER paid time off and the communities. Student Employees protection of em - She’s off to a good Union, and rebuilt ployees’ rights,” Gardner said. “In a start. Hanley has as - relationships with highly rationalized business world, sisted homeless peo - faculty, staff and JANISzEWSkI unions provide balance.” ple at the Buffalo administrators. She Gardner will again sign a union card City Mission by developed a GSA newsletter, added a when she becomes an elementary school serving meals and communications director position to the teacher after graduation. helping individuals organization, and created a GSA Wages She is the graduate student representa - prepare for entry- and Benefits Committee to address GSEU tive and an Advisory Council member to hANlEy level jobs or find ad - contract negotiations and the university’s Buffalo State’s Professional Development equate housing. She overreliance on contingent faculty. Schools Curriculum, a partnership be - has volunteered at dental and animal clin - “I am the ‘crazy’ person who takes tween the college and 45 Western New ics, and as an assistant swim coach for a on the challenges everyone else believes York elementary and high schools. The community team in South Buffalo. She to be lost causes,” Janiszewski said. consortium helps teacher candidates gain continues to help raise funds for charities, “Whether my future lies in academia, valuable field experience. such as Susan G. Komen Race for the activism or somewhere I have yet to “Kaitlyn is an energetic member of our Cure and St. Mary’s School for the Deaf. consider, I know I will always be fighting department team who demonstrates a high In 2009, Hanley traveled to the Domini - the neo-liberalization of education and level of integrity and conscientiousness,” can Republic with the Doctors with culture—the seemingly impossible battle.” said UUPer Leslie Day, assistant chair for Wings Project; she volunteered to help see s c h o l a R s , page 22

20 The Voice SepTember /o cTober 2014 Team working sessions, J was a tireless couRageous advocate for contingents (who) never economic policy continued from page 18 let his teammates overlook implica - institute to study Committee, which he chairs, developed tions of any proposals for contract pro - a handbook for mentors, presented a visions with regard to our contingent u.s. wage growth training workshop, and coordinated members,” said Executive Board and by Karen l. m aTTiSon mentor-mentee partnerships. Team member Anne Wiegard of Cort - “Doug’s contributions to the work of land. “And J had the courage to lighten UUP Farmingdale are outstanding,” some of our darkest moments, when it he Economic Policy Institute has launched “Raising Amer - said Vicki Janik, Farmingdale Chapter was hard to imagine that anyone would ica’s Pay,”a multiyear re - vice president for academics. “But per - risk making a joke, by doing just search and public education haps his most important work at the that—saying something so clever and Tinitiative to make wage growth an ur - chapter has been as chair of the newly funny that we all had to just laugh gent national policy priority. formed Mentor Committee. The away our anger and despair.” success of this committee and its “By explaining wage and benefit pat - McDermott, an adjunct lecturer in terns—and the role of labor market poli - valuable goals must be attributed to writing composition, was chapter part- Doug’s work.” cies and practices in suppressing time concerns representative from pay—the initiative is identifying policies Cody—who is also active in the 2002-08. He continues to speak that will generate broad-based wage Suffolk County Community College for contingents as a chapter executive growth,” according to an EPI statement. Faculty Association—is a member of board member and elected contingent “This work is connecting with and supporting civic engagement cocal coverage; scholarships honor and commu- the late Steve Street—pages 24-25 nity organizing groups working on pay and job quality issues to support their the chapter executive board and the concerns officer since 2013, and as campaigns.” Part-time Concerns and Department/ co-chair of the statewide Contingent A recent briefing paper—found at Area Representative committees. Employment Committee. bit.ly/1oriMcc—explains why it is cru - At the statewide level, Cody is a cial to raise wages to achieve real gains UUP, NYSUT and AFT delegate; he He served on the Presidential A-47 in the living standards of the vast major - also serves on UUP’s Technology Committee, which was convened after ity of Americans. Issues and Contingent Employment the 2007-2011 contract to gather infor - In “Why America’s Workers Need committees and the NYSUT Health mation and recommend future negotia - Faster Wage Growth—And What We Can and Safety Task Force. tions strategies on behalf of SUNY’s Do About It,” economist Elise Gould “Doug embodies the best qualities contingent workers. noted that hourly wages fell for most of adjunct UUP members,” said long - “While he worked very hard to help Americans in the first half of 2014, com - time Farmingdale Chapter delegate secure the best possible contract for all pared with the same period in 2013. Barbara Maertz. “He is an excellent UUP members, (McDermott’s) expert - Analyzing the past six months of wage professor, union activist, and mentor ise with regard to part-time employ - data (adjusted for inflation) from the Cen - sus Bureau’s Current Population Survey and advisor to full-time and part-time ment and his strong advocacy for Outgoing Rotation Group, Gould found: faculty and staff.” contingent employees were critical for • Wages have fallen in 2014 for high- the development of UUP’s contract wage earners and those with a college proposals and for our persistence at make wa y FoR mcDeRmott degree—groups with the lowest level of the negotiations table,” said UUP J McDermott has a knack for seeing unemployment. Vice President for Academics Jamie the big picture and a flair for injecting • Wages for the broad middle class humor into difficult situations. Both Dangler, chief negotiator for the declined over the last year, as they have came in handy as a member of the 2011-2016 collective bargaining agree - for most of the last 40 years. Negotiations Team for the 2011-2016 ment. “His commitment was selfless • The lowest wage earners (those at collective bargaining agreement with and given with true dedication to the 10th percentile) were the only group New York state. serving his colleagues from across to not suffer declining wages over the “Within the structure of the formal the state.” last year.

SepTember /o cTober 2014 T he Voice 21 Spotlight shines on UUPers by Karen l. m aTTiSon

ach year, hundreds of uup members publish books and articles, and are recognized for accomplishments E on campus and in their communities. the Voic e is pleased to recognize two members in this issue.

Marie Ponterio , française website she started in 1996— of life-saving a lecturer at SUNY www.cortland.edu/flteach/civ/—has technologies. Cortland since 1989, been influential in promoting French The device under was recently recog - culture through photos, short TV clips development in nized by the French and other materials that assist French Nieman’s lab is government as one teachers who have spent little or no designed to remove of only a handful of time in France. harmful abdominal individuals to earn Ponterio was nominated for the award fluid caused by the annual Chevalier PONTERIO by UUPer Catherine P. Lewis, a SUNY NIEmAN blunt abdominal dans l’Ordre des Cortland professor emerita of French and trauma, burns, shock Palmes Académiques (Knight in the a 1996 recipient of the Chevalier dans from massive bleeding, massive fluid Order of the French Academic Palms). l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques. resuscitation or sepsis. The buildup of The palmes académiques is an aca - fluids in the abdomen—the body’s demic knighthood that honors French Gary Nieman , an associate professor response to the initial trauma—can cause and foreign nationals who have con - of surgery and senior research scientist at organs to fail. tributed the most to promoting French Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, Nieman believes early intervention will language and culture. recently received a SUNY Technology prevent the buildup of fluids and pres - According to SUNY Cortland reports, Accelerator Fund grant to develop a sure, minimizing the risk of a potentially Ponterio has “done her best to share all minimally invasive infusion and suction deadly infection. things French,” including teaching, device. TAF promotes the development and writing, and developing a study-abroad Nieman’s grant of $50,000 was one of commercialization of technological program in her hometown of La five awarded to SUNY researchers to aid innovations created by SUNY students, Rochelle, France. The Civilisation in the development of the next generation faculty and staff.

Janiszewski has a 3.95 GPA. scholaRs Undergraduate scholarships are RetiRees continued from page 20 given in honor of UUP members continued from page 18 Janiszewski is a graduate teaching and their families who have donated “Every true community has a heart and assistant at UAlbany, and a University generously—in time and money—to soul. For UUP Oneonta, that is Loraine,” Senate senator and council member. the scholarship fund. The undergradu - said Chapter President Bill Simons. She volunteers in the Office of Inter - ate awards are given to recognize Tyler has served on the chapter executive cultural Leadership at St. Rose, where the late Eugene Link of Plattsburgh, board for nearly a generation, and is a fre - she earned her undergraduate a founding member of UUP and the quent contributor to her chapter newsletter. degree in 2010, and has worked as a scholarship fund, who dedicated his She has also been instrumental in organizing substitute teacher for the Capital Dis - life to working families, students informational meetings for Delhi and trict BOCES. and the labor movement; the late Oneonta retirees, and speaking to their is - UUPer Joette Stefl-Mabry, an associ - Gertrude Butera, a longtime SUNY sues as a board member of the college’s Re - ate professor of computing and informa - Alfred UUP member and honorary tired Faculty, Professional and tion studies at UAlbany and vice chair trustee and fundraiser for the UUP Administrators Association. of the University Senate, said she relies College Scholarship Fund; and the She has spent the last decade serving as on Janiszewski for guidance regarding late Robert Carter of SUNY Oswego special events director for UUP Oneonta, a the voice of students and other underrep - and his wife, Katherine, who be - position that covers everything from resented groups on campus. She also ad - queathed money to the union’s arranging chapter gatherings, to pitching mires Janiszewski’s passion and scholarship fund. tents, to securing child care and college fa - intelligence, and her willingness to do The William E. Scheuerman Post cilities for myriad member activities. whatever it takes to get the job done. Baccalaureate Award is named after At the state level, she serves a member of “There are many people who the former UUP president who led the the union’s Retiree Legislative Action ‘serve’ on various Senate councils union from 1993 to 2007. Scheuerman Group and as a delegate. and committees,” Stefl-Mabry said. was instrumental in securing the seed “Loraine’s loyalty, solidarity and “(Caitlin) is also willing to ‘work’ money for a scholarship for graduate commitment continue to define UUP and work hard.” and professional school students. Oneonta,” Simons said.

22 The Voice SepTember /o cTober 2014 On campus uup members on camera, behind the scenes on ‘girls’ by Karen l. m aTTiSon uly 29 wasn’t just another day at the office for UUPer Brendan O’Brien. Instead of heading to his job as events coordinator for JStudent Activities and Union Services at SUNY New Paltz, O’Brien stopped by wardrobe to don a blue-and-yellow Iowa Hawkeyes sweatshirt. He was a student that day. A made-for-television student. O’Brien was among nearly 80 faculty, staff and students to be cast as extras on “Girls,” the Emmy-winning HBO comedy that filmed part of an episode on the New Paltz campus. Karen l. m aTTiSon The episode, set to air in early 2015 when “Girls” returns for a fourth season, aboVe , UUp er brendan o’b rien , cenTer , follows Hannah Horvath (played by iS on camera STrolling ThroUgh The qUad . Lena Dunham, the show’s creator who leFT , e mma hempel poSeS while She waiTS was on site to direct the episode) to the To be called For her Scene For ‘g irlS .’ University of Iowa to attend the Iowa below , UUp er aShley neSTer , leFT , TalKS Writers’ Workshop. UI passed on allow - wiTh a local reporTer coVering The eVenT . ing the episode to be filmed there; New Paltz was chosen for its similarity to the Iowa campus and proximity to New York admissions advisor in the Office of City, where the show is based. Undergraduate Admissions, had her choice to play a student or staff member; action! the 24-year-old chose to be a student. O’Brien followed his girlfriend’s advice She was among the masses bustling to and showed up on set with her British lit - class through the quad. erature textbook, replete with colorful “I haven’t seen the show, but I’ll be sticky notes. He pulled on the Hawkeye watching now,” said Hempel, while sweatshirt and he was ready to go. awaiting her cue. “It’s a once in a life - “It’s a nice compliment that I can still time experience for students and staff.” pass as a student,” said the 30-year-old tunity to participate in the types of events O’Brien, who was an extra in both behinD the scenes that don’t happen every day on campus scenes filmed on campus. O’Brien and Hempel were two of a or in a regular setting,” Nester said. “It’s In the first scene, he and two students handful of UUP members in front of the important for our students, our staff and similarly clad in yellow UI hoodies were camera; others worked behind the scenes the community to experience this, to see seated on the rocks overlooking Gunk with the “Girls” crew to ensure the pro - what goes into a production like this.” Pond, while nearly 25 other extras sat duction went off without a hitch. Half a Yogurt Productions, the produc - tion company for “Girls,” made a dona - quietly on blankets, milled about or UUP member Ashley Nester, commu - S T tion to the SUNY New Paltz Foundation played Frisbee in the grassy area in front nications assistant in the Office of E E for being allowed to film on campus. of the Haggerty Administration Building. Communications and Marketing, spent N In the second, O’Brien joined several two weeks working with various campus Nester wouldn’t disclose the amount, but dozen extras passing in all directions departments to coordinate the event. Part said the money will be used for students. through the Old Main Quad. of her job included keeping everyone up “This is the biggest event I’ve worked “I was surprised to get the call and be to date on scheduling changes. on in terms of logistics,” she added. “I picked,” said O’Brien, who responded to Nester was also instrumental in pro - think our team did a good job planning an email for volunteers. “It’s exciting; moting the event to local media. everything. It’s worth all the work for I’ve never done anything like this before.” It was an easy sell. New Paltz to take part in an experience UUPer Emma Hempel, a freshmen “We are giving our students the oppor- like this and to make students happy.”

SepTember /o cTober 2014 T he Voice 23 Contingent concerns contingents talk change at cocal by michael liSi ambitions, accomplishments and strate - Executive Board member and officer for gies for refining higher ed employment contingents at UUP’s New Paltz Chapter. hey call it the “precarious practices related to contingents,” said “This isn’t just a problem in the states.” condition,” where your job Cortland Chapter and statewide Execu - comes up for renewal every tive Board member Anne Wiegard. mexican aDJuncts Rea ct year, health benefits are lim - “Your position as a contingent is precar - It’s a problem in Mexico, where Tited or non-existent, and your contem - ious. At any moment, you could lose adjuncts are working to form a group poraries are scattered across the your appointment.” called the Coalition for the Unity of the continent, making the prospect of or - “We’re creating awareness out of com - New Academic Majority in Mexico. ganizing a daunting challenge. mon issues to get a better idea of what oth - Set to start this year, the group is the This is life for most contingent faculty ers are struggling with,” said New Paltz Mexican equivalent to the New Faculty in America, Canada and Mexico, and it’s Chapter President Peter D.G. Brown. Majority, an Ohio-based nonprofit a situation many of them strive to change. More than a dozen UUPers attended organization that supports adjunct and It’s also why more than 300 contingents COCAL; they took part in plenary dis - contingent faculty at U.S. public and from campuses across North America cussions and broke into smaller groups private colleges and universities. came to New York City Aug. 4-6 to take for in-depth discussions on ways to It is difficult to organize in Mexico; part in the 11th annual Coalition of advance the contingents’ agenda. The unions there face legislation that bars Contingent Academic Labor conference. topics included media organizing and them from engaging in collective bar - Dubbed COCAL 11, the biennial gather - narratives, building national agendas, gaining over anything but salary. Maria ing is an opportunity for contingents to bargaining, and legislative advocacy. Teresa Lechuga, a Ph.D. candidate in talk about shared problems and work on As a whole, the group addressed issues pedagogy at the National Autonomous ways to solve them. such as organizing adjuncts, building University of Mexico, said that 76 per - cent of professors in Mexico are contin - gent faculty. “We all share the precious condition,” Lechuga said. “We have to stop asking permission to organize ourselves. We have to do something about this.” “The idea that politics has no place in academic work makes us become weak,” said Arturo Ramos, a member of the Union of Workers of the National Autonomous University of Mexico. “We need to turn into true political ac - tors who can truly exercise our power to change things.”

betteR up noRth Things aren’t as dire in Canada, where roughly 50 percent of professors are ad - juncts; in the U.S., about 70 percent of michael liSi teaching faculty are contingents,

corTland chapTer and STaTewide execUTiVe board member anne wiegard Said cocal according to an article in University iS an imporTanT VenUe For conTingenT employeeS From The U.S., c anada and mexico To Affairs, a Canadian higher ed industry Share ideaS and ambiTionS , and reFine higher edUcaTion employmenT pracTiceS . publication (http://goo.gl/cQMAbN). But much needs to be done before The theme of the conference: “Shaping coalitions, and working to achieve more contingents will see meaningful an Equitable and Democratic Future for workplace rights. changes, including electing more pro- Higher Education: The Way Forward.” “COCAL is an exchange of ideas, a education leaders. “This is the only venue where contin - place where we can support each other “We’ve got to elect more progressive gents from the U.S., Canada and Mex - and share each other’s successes and government leaders,” said Cindy Oliver, ico come together to share their struggles,” said Beth Wilson, statewide president of the Federation of Post-Sec -

24 The Voice SepTember /o cTober 2014 new Faculty majority, uup honor member with scholarships

by Karen l. m aTTiSon

he late Steve Street of Buffalo State is remembered as a staunch supporter of contingent workers, as a leader and mentor with the TNew Faculty Majority, and as an accom - plished writer and blogger on the challenges confronting adjunct and part-time faculty. Street’s colleagues want others to remem - ber—and follow—his example. NFM and UUP have established scholar - ships to honor Street, a 2010 recipient of the union’s Fayez Samuel Award for Courageous Service by Part-time Academic and Profes - sional Faculty, who passed away in 2012.

nFm to awaRD actiV ism The first Steve Street Award for Extraordi - michael liSi nary Faculty Activism will be handed out at UUp e xecUTiVe board member beTh wilSon , n ew palTZ chapTer oFFicer For conTingenTS , the 2015 International Conference of the aSKS a qUeSTion aT The coaliTion oF conTingenT academic labor conFerence in manhaTTan . Coalition of Contingent Academic Labor and in alternate years during Campus Equity Week. The award will recognize individuals ondary Educators of British Colum - AFT’s Higher Education department, who have used their talent to advance the bia in Canada. “Once we get the said that the federation has a “long- causes of social and economic justice, people out of office that disrespect term commitment” to contingents. Half engaged in fearless intellectual critique with us and don’t like what we do, the of the more than 200,000 higher ed fac - integrity and compassion, and remain com - better off we’ll be.” ulty, staff, and graduate employees rep - mitted to teaching and learning. “We are now employees, so we have resented by AFT are contingents; of The deadline for the award is Sept. 30. to follow what AFT did in the those, 70 percent are part-time. Applications can be downloaded at 1960s—don’t act like teachers, act “All of that points to contingents http://bit.ly/1lI29hZ like auto workers,” said Stanley growing in AFT,” she said. Aronowitz, a PSC/CUNY member and uup to Recognize ReseaRch professor of sociology and urban edu - in the meDia The first Steve M. Street Social Justice cation at the CUNY Graduate Center. Contingents also talked about ways Project Award will be given this fall to an to increase media coverage of contin - individual student or team of students uup backs contingents gent employment issues. whose research or creative project ad - Unions such as UUP have been com - New Faculty Majority President dresses the role of collective action in pro - mitted to contingents for years. UUP Maria Maisto said national media cov - moting an equitable, peaceful and just was one of the first unions to negotiate erage of adjunct issues has increased society. Eligible students must be under - health insurance, vision and dental cov - by 300 percent in the last few years. graduates in good academic standing who erage to eligible part-time employees. Recently, Congress has shown interest are matriculated in a degree-granting pro - UUP has also negotiated annual across- in a bill to include non-tenure-track gram at a SUNY campus. the-board salary increases and eligibil - faculty in the federal public service The proposed work should analyze a spe - ity for grant programs, pre-tax savings loan forgiveness program, and Cam - cific issue and show how collective action— plans for health care and dependent pus Equity Week events on college such as that undertaken by organized labor, care, and other benefits for full- and campuses nationwide have also gener - community groups, or other single-issue or part-time contingent employees. ated press. multi-issue organizations and social move - Contingents also have the support “Contingent faculty is on the move ments—might work to solve the problem. of AFT. and we are doing something about our More information can be found at Alyssa Picard, assistant director of condition,” Maisto said. http://bit.ly/1uAT1vd

SepTember /o cTober 2014 T he Voice 25 uup members may be Union benefits eligible for federal loan forgiveness program btF outlines programs, services by Karen l. m aTTiSon for new and returning members

oo few public sector workers t’s a new academic year and are taking advantage of a I would like to personally federal loan forgiveness welcome all of our new and program. returning UUP members and TUUP President Fred Kowal wants to Itheir families. make sure that eligible UUP members The following is an overview of aren’t among them. your UUP Benefit Trust Fund benefits. “UUP members teaching and working in I encourage you to read The Voice public colleges, universities, hospitals and throughout the year for continuing Doreen M. Bango, Manager , Member Benefits & Services health science centers may qualify to have updates on all benefits available to their student loans forgiven or, at the eligible UUPers and their families. very least, be given favorable repayment Benefit Trust Fund : Eligible UUP options,” Kowal said. “With student debt members are entitled to a wide range Apple, AT&T, Bally Total Fitness, BJ’s topping $1 trillion, it’s an opportunity that of benefits and discounted services. Wholesale Club, Brooklyn Nets, Enter - shouldn’t be overlooked.” Your collective bargaining agreement prise, Goodyear, HP Academy, Jos. A. According to the Consumer Financial between UUP and New York state pro - Bank, Liberty Mutual, Mirabito, Office Protection Bureau, 33 million public ser - vides for dental and vision care. The Max, Sprint and Verizon Wireless. vants are eligible for the Public Service Benefit Trust Fund also administers a Check out these UUP-backed programs Loan Forgiveness Program, but many life insurance program at no cost to and services whenever you need a new workers find the program too confusing members. These benefits are funded by phone, office supplies or a suit for an and cumbersome to navigate. The agency the state and administered through the important event. has asked Congress to review the federal BTF at UUP headquarters in Latham. The Member Service Trust Fund also loan program and to encourage employers Delta Dental PPO plan : This pro - offers dental and vision benefits for to make sure workers know about it. gram covers preventive and diagnostic retiree and noneligible part-time UUP A PSLF fact sheet can be found at services at 100 percent when using an members. http://1.usa.gov/1lJWwPa; for instruc - in-network provider, with a total annual Benefits staff : Your BTF representa - tions on completing employment certifi - maximum benefit of $2,500 per eligible tives—Regina, Gretchen, Mary, Kim cation, go to http://bit.ly/Wbry7E member and/or dependent. Orthodontic and Mary Jane—assist our members services are available for children and with more than just dental, vision and expa nD eligibility adults. life insurance questions. They also help The union is stepping up for the thou - Delta Dental DHMO plan members with Empire Plan and HMO sands of contingent members, graduate (DeltaCare USA) : This is an HMO- claims, address changes, dependent employees and staff working at SUNY type program with no claim forms or eligibility, and others by quickly colleges and universities. maximums. The plan covers most directing your calls to the appropriate At the AFT Convention in Los Angeles preventive and diagnostic services at departments, when necessary. The rep - in July, UUPers convinced their union 100 percent. There are reduced costs resentatives are here to ensure you colleagues to press for legislation to for basic restorative services and ortho - receive proper information and the extend the PSLF program to college dontic services are available for chil - service you deserve. employees working fewer than 30 hours dren and adults. Our retiree member services coordi - a week. Another possible action: Allow Davis Vision : This program offers nator, Walter Apple, is a valuable part-timers to qualify on a pro rata basis. a comprehensive eye exam and one resource for our UUP retiree members. The UUP-backed resolution, adopted by pair of glasses (or the benefit may be He is knowledgeable in all related AFT convention delegates, cites a number applied to contact lenses) once every retiree issues; he can be reached at of concerns with the PSLF program, most 12 months for eligible UUPers and (800) 342-4206 ext 638 or at notably that employers “drastically under - dependents. [email protected]. estimate” the number of hours worked. UNUM Provident : The group life For a detailed explanation of your “This resolution puts the weight of the insurance program is provided for all benefits through the UUP Benefit Trust 1.6-million member AFT behind the active bargaining unit members. The Fund, check out our website at 9,150 UUP members working in part-time maximum benefit is $6,000. www.uupinfo.org and click on Member positions,” Kowal said. “That kind of Member Services Trust Fund : This Area, or call us at (800) 887-3863. political clout goes a long way.” fund offers discounted rates from Aflac, Let us do the work for you.

26 The Voice SepTember /o cTober 2014 uupers win sunglasses in ‘crossword quiz’ abDucteD ifteen UUPers are the lucky Marty Toper, all of Upstate Medical continued from page 15 recipients of a free pair of non - University; Kerry Chapin-Lavigne, Bob Bruce Altschuler, an Oswego Chapter prescription sunglasses, com - Christopherson and Nancy Church, all of delegate, recalled how Weinstein invited pliments of Davis Vision. Plattsburgh; Alicia Goode, Binghamton; him to stay in the family’s home while FThe recipients correctly answered the Paul Griffin, Geneseo; Brenda Henry- Altschuler searched for an apartment. It crossword challenge in the May/June Offor, Empire State College; Linda was 1976, and Altschuler had just been 2014 issue of The Voice ; their names Kravitz and Melissa Slisz, both of Buf - hired to teach at SUNY Oswego. He was were pulled in a random drawing of falo State; Barb Minerd, Farmingdale; scrambling to find an apartment when qualified entrants. and Nancy Van Deusen, Cobleskill. Weinstein offered his help. The winners are: Carol Braund, Wayne The correct answers to the crossword “I stayed in his house for a few days Decatur, Karen Falise, Janette Miller and challenge are shown below. and he drove me to several possible apartments,” Altschuler said. “At one of them, while I was talking to the land - lady, he took the tenant aside and dis - covered some flaws in the apartment that prevented me from what would have been a problematic living situation.” Altschuler fears time is running out for Weinstein. So, too, does former UUP President Bill Scheuerman, an Oswego Chapter delegate, who recalls Weinstein as a mentor and friend. “The American government must pro - tect its citizens; it’s what governments are supposed to do,” said Scheuerman, UUP president from 1993-2007. “It’s important for everyone to get involved. There’s a life at stake.”

senD a stRong messa ge UUPers are asked to press legislators to pass Congressional resolutions calling for Weinstein’s immediate release. Call the U.S. Senate switchboard at 1-202-224-3121 and urge support for S. Con. Res. 38; call the U.S. House of Representatives switchboard at 1-202-225-3121 and urge support for H. Con. Res. 101. Kowal also hopes UUP members will encourage their families, friends and colleagues to tweet and email the White House for action at www.BringWarren - Home.com, a website devoted to Wein - stein’s return. “There’s no time to waste,” Kowal said. “Every one of us must do our part to help a colleague and countryman who’s been put in harm’s way. It’s what we must do as a nation, as labor union - ists, and as a community dedicated to free speech around the world.”

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