n Official Publication of United University Professions The Nation’s Largest Higher Education Union Working For You September/October 2016 WWhhoo iiss tthhee bbeesstt cchhooiiccee ffoorr aallll AAmmeerriiccaannss?? —— PPaaggee 4 4 THE Voic e Volume 44, Number 1 The VOICE is the official publication of United Official Publication of United University Professions The Nation’s Largest Higher Education Union Working For You HAT S INSIDE University Professions (UUP), bargaining agent for September/October 2016 this issue W ’ the more than 35,000 academic and professional Who is the best choice employees of the State University of New York. for all Americans? — Page 4 Contact UUP at P.O. Box 15143, Albany, New Cover illustration by York 12212-5143. Telephone (518) 640-6600 or Karen l. M attison 10 UUP seeks comments on flawed toll-free at (800) 342-4206. UUP’s Internet site teacher certification exams is www.uupinfo.org. UUP is Local 2190 of the American Federation of Teachers (AFL-CIO) uuP is asking members to use the union’s new and is affiliated with NYSUT and the National web portal to share their comments, concerns and Education Association. experiences with the new teacher certification exams. A clear choice for president UUP STATEWIDE OFFICERS 4— The Voice explains exactly what’s at stake FREDERICK E. KOWAL this november for working families, public President education, the labor movement and more. Also : also: 3 to the Point: i’m with her! 3— uuP President Fred Kowal explains why Hillary 12 uuP outreach Committee holds retreat Clinton is the only choice for president in this J. PHILIPPE ABRAHAM election. 13 brooklyn consultant called out by comptroller Vice President 5— buffalo Center uuPer Monica Wallace easily 14 Member spotlight: uuPer coaches wounded vets wins Democratic primary for assembly seat, for Professionals thanks to uuP outreach efforts in Western ny. 15 spotlight shines on members 6-7— Check out side-by-side comparisons of 16 Who’s Who: Chapter presidents’ contact info the Democratic and republican candidates JAMIE F. DANGLER 17 labor notes for president. Vice President 8-9— uuP members take part in nysut’s annual 18 save with nysut benefits for Academics endorsement conference; plus the full list of 19 uuP benefits: the union advantage endorsed candidates. EILEEN LANDY Secretary Follow UUP on Facebook , TwiTTer and ROWENA J. BLACKMAN-STROUD insTagram ! Treasurer Go to www.UUPinfo.org THOMAS C. HOEY to sign up today. Membership Development Officer UUP COMMUNICATIONS DEPT. MICHAEL LISI Director of Communications KAREN L. MATTISON Associate Director of Communications Check out the latest at www.uupinfo.org: DONALD FELDSTEIN — UUPers jeer Trump, stand tall in NYC Labor Day parade; Union strong in upstate parades. Media Relations Specialist http://bit.ly/2cMpvkr and http://bit.ly/2bP9rRT DARRYL M CGRATH Communications Specialist — SUNY’s proposed Patent Policy changes: Since April 2015, UUP has been involved in efforts to address the proposed patent policy changes announced by SUNY just a month before: ANGELL M. VILLAFAÑE http://bit.ly/2d2SO53 Communications Assistant The VOICE is a member of the American Federation — Did you Know?: Funding for NYS/UUP Joint Labor-Management programs is still available: of Teachers Communicators Network and the http://bit.ly/2cyplxf International Labor Communications Association. THE VOICE SEPTEMBER /O CTOBER 2016 2 To the Point DHeair lcloallearguyes, Clinton is the only choice determination to fight for I want to speak very personally progressive goals. And she about what I believe to be the certainly was a progressive: most important issue facing us Liberal groups rated her work right now. November’s national in the Senate as highly as that election presents us with a rare of Bernie Sanders’ when they opportunity: the chance for a served together. clear and distinct choice between I have had the good fortune of the candidates for the White meeting and discussing higher House and Congress. More education issues with Secretary importantly, we can put in place Clinton, and she’s always dis - a president, a majority in the played a keen interest in the Congress and a Supreme Court details of issues we face. She that affirms the progressive asks for our solutions and how values our union holds dear. they would work. Sure, she’s a I grew up in a union house - policy wonk, but one who is hold, but one that tended to vote passionate about lifting up the Republican. My parents’ Repub - working class. lican leanings brought them to AFT Has she made mistakes? support liberal Republicans— UUP P RESIDENT FRED KOWAL POSES WITH FORMER SECRETARY OF Certainly. And she has, for the senators like Ed Brooke in my STATE HILLARY CLINTON , THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT . most part, taken responsibility native Massachusetts, and candi - for them. I respect that. And I dates like Nelson Rockefeller. can accept the fact that she is After Watergate, my parents’ political Children’s Defense Fund, and as first not perfect—far from it. But, can any of allegiances shifted to the Democratic lady, when she led the fight for health us say that our admiration for presidents Party, where they have remained. care reform. As a U.S. senator, she repre - like Franklin Roosevelt or John F. I have no doubt that my late sented New York effectively and with Kennedy wasn’t diminished by what we father would be appalled by Republican distinction. As secretary of state, she now know about their character flaws? presidential nominee Donald Trump. displayed wisdom and strength. Indeed, can you imagine how either And I know my mom is appalled and I know that many of you supported would have fared in today’s media- disgusted by Trump’s campaign and the Sen. Bernie Sanders, and that you may drenched world? tone he has set. His policy prescriptions, disagree with my assessment of Secre - For those inclined to vote for Stein (for such as they are, are revolting to her—as tary Clinton. I understand that some of brevity’s sake and for reasons I hope I they should be to any child of immi - you are considering supporting Green don’t have to get into, I will not address grants, any woman, any person of color, Party candidate Jill Stein. I urge you to those who may favor Trump or Libertar - any environmentalist, any educator, or think deeply about the ramifications of ian Party candidate Gary Johnson) I anyone who lives with hope for a more such a step. I offer you these points. voted my “conscience” and supported peaceful world built on the values of I did not support Hillary Clinton in Citizens Party candidate Barry Com - compassion, love and justice. 2008. I was an early and avid supporter moner in 1980. It felt good. But, I was To say that it’s imperative that Trump of Barack Obama. I worked hard to elect one of only 220,000 people who voted never get anywhere near the White him in 2008 and re-elect him in 2012. for Commoner; there was no lsting House—except as part of a tour group— I’m proud of that work. Even though I impact on our nation by my vote. In is an understatement. Still, I would disagree with him on certain policies, 2000, I almost voted for Ralph Nader. never ask you to vote for a candidate I do not waiver in my position that he Terrified by the prospect of another because the other likely choice is unac - was by far the best candidate in both Bush presidency, I voted for Al Gore. ceptable, though Trump is clearly so. elections. My fears were well-placed. And I wish I ask you to vote for Hillary Clinton I was not quick to support Secretary those Nader voters in Florida had voted because she is by far the most qualified Clinton this time either, and had to be as I did. We all know what occurred candidate, and the most likely to promote sold on her and her policy proposals. in those eight years under “Dubya.” a progressive agenda. She has earned our And I have been. In the years since Indeed, we are all still paying in so support through her long years of service, 2008, I’ve come to respect her strength, many ways. in her years after college working for the her wisdom, and her dogged see TO THE POINT , page 13 SEPTEMBER /O CTOBER 2016 THE VOICE 3 Cover story TBY MhICHAeEL LrISI e’s a lot at stake this November nions have a lot to lose in the November presidential election. And a lot to gain. It all depends on which candidate— Democrat Hillary Clinton or Republican UDonald Trump—Americans choose to lead the country for the next four years. Unions have already made their choice: they’re with her. From the AFL-CIO, the United Steel - workers, and the Teamsters to AFT, NEA and NYSUT, unions nationwide have come out en masse to back Clinton— much to the chagrin of Trump, who slammed the AFL-CIO for “no longer representing American workers” after the union’s ringing endorsement of Clinton in June. Why is labor behind Hillary? Because she supports the middle class, she believes in public education and she is a friend to working families who will stand up for them once she’s in the White House. She’s pledged to continue Presi - dent Obama’s work to stabilize and grow America’s economy, and she’s a cham - pion for social justice. Clinton and move America forward.” that Donald Trump is not elected presi - SHapiNg ameriCa ’S fuTure As president, Clinton will make appoint - “(Clinton’s) economic plan puts unions dent,” Kowal said.