UNITYSUNY Cobleskill UUP Chapter, Cobleskill, NY, 12043

www.uuphost.org/cobleskill • 518-255-5250 • UUP@cobleskill.edu

What’s Inside...Slow Train Coming 1

Scholarship Opportunities 2

What’s Cookin... 2

Privileges 2

Good Times Had By All 3 Treasury Update 4

Treasurer’s Notes 4

NYSUT Message - Ad 5

Rally Day 6

UUP Scholarship Applications 7

Officers, Executive Board 8 Members, Etc.

Call for News 8

Cookbook Form Insert

UNITY, Winter 2012

Slow Train ComingBy: Fred Kowal, Chapter PresidentFor the past 15 months, no issue has occupied my time more than academic workload. From the time when the issue was first raised by administration at labor management meetings last fall, till the eventual unilateral increase in teaching loads at the start of this fall semester, I have tried to share with you as much infor-mation as possible concerning what was being done to protect our common interests. I know that at times there has been frustration in the membership about the seeming lack of infor-mation forthcoming from your chapter leader-ship. Rest assured, I understand and appreciate this frustration. I have been frustrated by the fact that there were many times when I simply could not share with you what was happening, so as to protect the process which was unfold-ing that would lead to where we are today. And, of course, every avenue has been pursued to find a way to address the issues raised by the increase in workload imposed by administra-tion. The lack of success in those attempts has left UUP with no choice but to proceed with an Improper Practice Charge against the adminis-tration at SUNY Cobleskill. Let me outline the facts as they stand and the process to unfold at this point. Keep in mind, however, that UUP remains open to discussions or negotiations which could forestall this long, drawn out legal action. Nonetheless, the IP will proceed as follows.

First, because workload is a Mandatory Item of Negotiation under the Taylor Law, no SUNY administration may increase our workload without first negotiating with the sole bargain-ing agent for us, and that is UUP. Specifi-cally, I – as chapter president – would have to ask Phil Smith, the President of UUP for such authorization to negotiate. Similarly, the administration at SUNY Cobleskill would have to ask for authorization from the state of New York’s Governor’s Office of Employee Rela-tions (GOER) to negotiate. I did ask for such authorization last fall. Because we are present-ly involved in statewide contract negotiations, Dr. Smith did not grant me such authorization. I informed our administration of this last fall, while also passing on Dr. Smith’s position that

should GOER express a willingness to negoti-ate the issue, he would reconsider.

Second, when the workload for certain depart-ments was increased starting in August, UUP began the process of preparing to utilize the most powerful weapon in our arsenal: An Improper Practice (IP) Charge against SUNY Cobleskill. We undertook a survey of faculty to determine the extent of the problem. We consulted extensively with the NYSUT staff and statewide leadership of UUP. Eventually, after many hours of work, our NYSUT Labor Relations Specialist, Maureen Seidel crafted the document necessary for the filing of the IP. We studied the document over the past couple weeks and now I can inform you that the President of UUP along with the Direc-tor of NYSUT staff, Susan Bloom-Jones have signed off on the complaint. It will be submit-ted to the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB), absent any action by the State of New York, SUNY, or the college administration that would remove the necessity for the filing.

Third, PERB will now study the complaint and should they find the complaint to be suffi-ciently justified, GOER will be notified. Then, unless there is a settlement, the case will go to an Administrative Law Judge for a hear-ing. Eventually, that judge will determine if our case should be decided in our favor and, if so, he will order relief for us. There can be an appeal to the full PERB board following the judge’s decision, should either side decide it’s in their interests to do so. The whole process will take months, so hang on…it will get interesting….

As our struggle enters this new stage, I want to thank the members of our Chapter’s Executive Board, our new (and returning) Department Representatives and members of the Profes-sionals Concerns Committee for all their work on this and all issues we face as a chapter. Also, I want to thank our LRS, Maureen Seidel for her tireless work on our behalf.

(see Slow Train Coming, page 2)

What’s Going On!Jan. 8 Rally for SUNY’s Public Hospitals and Medical Schools State Capital, Albany 12:30 p.m.

2 - UNITY, Winter 2012

Finally, I thank Phil Smith, who has been strongly commit-ted to taking on the defense of our rights, beginning with those first indications that administration was trying to increase our workload in violation of the Taylor Law. He is a committed supporter of all of us in UUP, and I trust his steady and strong leadership of our union implicitly. His signature on that IP means that the full weight of the 35000 members of the largest, most powerful higher educa-tion union in the world is now fully committed to our fight. That’s something that should make us feel a bit more joyful this holiday season. I know I feel that way…Stay tuned…

And from all of us on the UUP-Cobleskill Executive Board, please accept our best wishes for a safe and happy Holiday Season, and a healthy and joy-filled New Year!

Slow Train Coming... (continued from page 1)

Membership Has Its Privileges UUP CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS ARE COMING!

ARE YOU A UUP MEMBER OR AN AGENCY-FEE PAYER?

Check your most recent Paystub to find out. If it says “UUP Agency Fee” you are not yet a UUP member.

If you are an “Agency Fee Payer” and not a UUP member:

You cannot participate in UUP’s Negotiations Survey

You cannot vote on the collective bargaining agreement (i.e. UUP contract)

You cannot vote in UUP elections to choose union leaders on campus, or at the state or national levels

You cannot hold union office

JOIN UUP TODAY!

1. Go to www.uupinfo.org

2. Click “About UUP” “Join UUP” on left side of

page, then click “Welcome/Join” in the pull-

down menu

3. Click “Active Membership Application” at

bottom of page

4. Send your form to: UUP, P.O. Box 15143,

Albany, NY 12212-5143.

Contact your local UUP Chapter Office if you have any questions!

Are You a UUP Member or Agency-fee Payer?

UUP contract negotiations are underway. Only UUP Members are permitted to vote on the CONTRACT, participate in UUP negotiation surveys, and vote in UUP elections campus, state-wide and nationally. Your vote does matter. Let your voice be heard!

Become A UUP Member today!

Dear Colleagues:

The UUP College Scholarship provides a one-time award of $3,000 to any qualified SUNY student, and four students received these awards in 2012.

Applicants must be currently registered, full-time under-graduate students carrying at least twelve (12) credits at SUNY Cobleskill or another SUNY campus and must pos-sess the following: (1) a dedication to the goals of the trade/labor-union movements; (2) integrity; (3) a tireless quest for excellence in both academic and personal endeavors; and (4) service to the community. At the time of application, appli-cants must have completed at least eighteen (18) credits at a SUNY campus with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.75 and must be enrolled through the following Fall semester.

Application information is available at http://uupinfo.org/scholarships/pdf/2013UndergradApplication.pdf

Please spread the word and encourage your top students to apply. If you have any questions, please feel free to let me know.

Sincerely,

ZJ Jiang, x 5617

UUP Scholarships By: ZJ Jiang, Academic Delagate

UUP Scholarship Development Committee will publish a cookbook of the recipes submitted by UUP members, their friends and relatives. This is a fundraising effort for the UUP Scholarship Fund, which provides financial awards to outstanding SUNY students. I urge members to submit their recipes for this great cause. Please see the attached Recipe Submission Form.

Sincerely,

ZJ Jiang, x 5617

What’s Cookin...By: ZJ Jiang, Academic Delagate

UNITY, Winter 2012 - 3

UUP Cobleskill ChapterMembership Meeting and Celebration

On Thursday, December 6th the UUP Cobleskill Chapter gathered for a meeting and celebration to recognize retiring members. 110 people attended the event, which was held at a local

restaurant A Taste of Europe. Members, retirees and their guests enjoyed appetizers, a delightful dinner, and casual conversation. Seventeen members of the Cobleskill Chapter retired this year.

Their years of service combined equal 544 years.

Thank you for your dedication and service to SUNY Cobleskill.

UNITY, Winter 2012 - 4

Dear Colleagues:

I have attached the proposed budget for the Cobleskill UUP 2013-14 academic year. Please note that the Chapter has requested a special allocation from the State UUP to offset the release time expense of Fred Kowal as he serves UUP Statewide.

Please consider running for the office of the Treasurer. The responsibilities are limited to carefully allocating the chapter’s finances to best serve our members. The work associated with the Chapter Treasure never exceeds 2 hours per month.

Respectfully submitted, Anne Rogan

Treasury UpdateBy: Anne Rogan, Treasurer

December 5, 2012

The budget presented for the 2013-2014 is very conservative. This means that I have perhaps overestimated our expenses, but I am doing this so the membership can be confident that at the end of the 2013-14 budget year the Cobleskill UUP Chapter will be financially solvent.

1. I have estimated $4500 for member meetings. Usually this includes just a May meeting but in the 2012-13 academic year we included an additional meeting in December.2. Executive Board meetings occur monthly. The $600 expense presented for these meetings is for member lunches for those attending during their lunch hours.3. Office expenses generally fall in the $500-700 range. The printer is new in the office but there is always the possibility of upgrades needed and the usual printing and paper expenses.4. There is $1000 budgeted for printing and the newsletter plus $450 for the postage. This budgeted amount is similar to the expenses for the last 2 years.5. Workshops for professionals generally are conducted over the lunch time so $800 is in the budget for member meals and any supplies associated with the workshop.

2013 - 2014 BUDGET REQUEST FORM (In addition to annual allocations)

NAME OF CHAPTER

8/31/2013 Chapter Cash Balance (Anticipated) A

2013 - 2014 ESTIMATED ANNUAL ALLOCATIONS B

2013 - 2014 ANNUAL BUDGET PROJECTION C

ESTIMATED BUDGET OVERAGE (SHORTFALL) (A + B) - C (Supplemental Allocation Request)

Explanation and justification of budget request:(Examples of expenditures for additional funding: purchase of equipment or anything necessary for theday-to-day operation of the Chapter.) (Supplemental Allocations will be requested separately.)

A. Estimated Annual Allocation = (# bargaining unit members * $14) + $1,500

B. Annual Budget Projection worksheet:RECEIPTS:

Gross Estimated September Transmittal $2,184.00 Gross Estimated January Transmittal $1,184.00Gross Estimated April Transmittal $2,276.00Supplemental TransmittalInterest EarnedReimbursementsOther (Explain)

Total Receipts $5,644.00

EXPENDITURES:Membership/Chptr Committee Meetings $4,500.00Chapter Assistant Addt'l Hours $0.00 Executive Board Meetings $600.00Outreach Expenses $0.00Grievance Expenses $0.00Office Expenses $700.00Printing/Duplicating $500.00Newsletter/Publications $500.00Telephone/Internet/Website Expenses $150.00Postage/Shipping $450.00Bank Charges $0.00Workshop Expenses $800.00Equipment/Furniture $0.00Chapter Release Time SupportOther Expenses (Explain) $0.00

Total Expenditures $8,200.00

RETAIN ONE COPY FOR YOUR FILES

Date of chapter budget vote: __________________

Results of chapter budget vote: In favor ________ Opposed ______ Abstained _________

Cobleskill

$10,000

5644

$8,200

$7,444

Chapter President or Treasurer

$282.20

It is recommended that agencyfee expenditures not exceed

5% of the normal chapterallocations. The amount forthe 2013/2014 fiscal year is:

Treasurer’s NotesBy: Anne Rogan, Treasurer

UNITY, Winter 2012 - 5

Nov./Dec. '12

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UNITY, Winter 2012 - 6

Please email Fred Kowal at fkowal@uupmail.org if you want to attend the event.

UNITY, Winter 2012 - 7

SUBMISSIONS:Please e-mail your articles on campus issues, concerns, and labor-related topics to: schorfjm@cobleskill.edu or UUP@cobleskill.edu

Jennifer Schorf, EditorCommunications and MarketingAlumni Hall, Room 115Phone: 255-5640E-mail: schorfjm@cobleskill.edu

Got News to Share?

UNITY, Winter 2012

UNITYChapter OfficeSUNY Cobleskill105 Old GymCobleskill, NY 12043

Meeting Locations & Times

UUP Executive Board Meetings are held in Old Gym, room 105.

Dates and times are posted on the website.

www.uuphost.org/cobleskill

United University Professions (UUP) is the union representing more than 30,000 academic and professional faculty on 29 State University of New York campuses, plus Central Administration, Empire State College, and the New York State Theatre Institute. UUP is affiliated with

the New York State United Teachers and the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO.

The opinions expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily the opinion or feelings of UUP nor do they imply endorsement by UUP.

President: Fred KowalVP Academics: Bill Tusang

VP Professionals: Chad HisertSecretary: Cliff DaVisTreasurer: Anne Rogan

Part Time Concerns: Erik Burke Grievance Chair: Tom Hickey

Membership Chair: Mitch Tomaszkiewicz Affirmative Action Officer: Lynda McMaster-Schuyler

Vote-Cope Coordinator: Salvador RiveraAcademic Delegate: Zhongehon JiangProfessional Delegate: Joe McCarthy

Newsletter Editor: Jennifer SchorfChapter Assistant: Patricia Lepore Moody

UUP Executive Board Members UUP Office Contact Information

518-255-5250 UUP@cobleskill.edu

www.uuphost.org/cobleskill

Old Gym, room 105Mon. & Tues. 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Thurs. 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.

UUP SCHOLARSHIP DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEECOOKBOOK FUNDRAISER

Name: ______________________________________________________

Chapter: ______________________________________________________

Recipe Name: __________________________________________

Category: Appetizers, Beverages Soups, Salads Vegetables Main Dishes Breads, Rolls Desserts Miscellaneous

Ingredients: ______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

Directions: ______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

Please submit completed forms to Cindie Bayly via mail to United University Professions, PO Box 15143, Albany NY 12212-5143 or via e-mail at cbayly@uupmail.org