{"id":2233,"date":"2019-11-26T12:05:12","date_gmt":"2019-11-26T17:05:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/uuphost.org\/buffalo\/?p=2233"},"modified":"2020-05-15T12:10:04","modified_gmt":"2020-05-15T16:10:04","slug":"uup-accomplishments-november-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/uuphost.org\/buffalo\/2019\/11\/26\/uup-accomplishments-november-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"UUP Accomplishments – November 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Together We Fight November 2019<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Will UB Support Increased Graduate Student Stipends?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The announcement that all but six departments within the twenty-nine departments of the College of Arts and Sciences were not to be given permission to recruit for Graduate Assistants for the 2020-21 academic year led to a successful petition — supported by the UUP chapter — for a special faculty meeting within a week of the announcement.<\/p>\n

Acting Provost Scott Weber\u2019s subsequent decision to give the College of Arts and Sciences additional finances of one additional year to address the consequences of the increased stipends for graduate student employees was a welcome relief for what could quickly have had substantial negative effects on faculty workloads and the characters of departments.\u00a0\u00a0 Graduate student recruitment was restarted across CAS.<\/p>\n

The fact that faculty \u2013 being quite angry \u2013 mobilized against the originating crisis and also that our UUP chapter conveyed our support widely throughout the campus surely had a significant impact.\u00a0 I have always felt that one great advantage of a union is the right to communicate with members<\/strong>: in this case, we used that right to very good effect.<\/p>\n

In principle, Weber\u2019s relief should lead to departments being in a better position to recruit graduate students for next year.\u00a0 However, I sense that the higher administration may still use the opportunity for a money grab by not fully transferring the increased resources down to departments: Money is always fungible and the manner in which the policy change was initially implemented was very authoritarian.\u00a0 \u00a0See the next portion of my message which provides background evidence for my concern, and for much more!<\/p>\n

New information has just been compiled by English Professor Jim Holstun, accessing the level of staff in Deans\u2019 offices across the four SUNY Centers.\u00a0 This data are as follows and CLEARLY exhibit the DRASTICALLY higher levels of management here in CAS compared to other campuses. \u00a0We are not even the same league with the others.\u00a0 It is a wonder that the UB President and Provost ever have allowed this to occur, while they are always talking about tight budgets:<\/p>\n

Stony Brook University College of Arts and Sciences<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

One Dean
\nFour Associate Deans
\nFive Assistant Deans
\nTwo Directors<\/p>\n

Binghamton University, Harpur College of Arts and Sciences<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

One Dean
\nThree Associate Deans
\nFour Assistant Deans
\nTwo Directors<\/p>\n

Albany University, College of Arts and Sciences<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

One Dean
\nOne Associate Dean and One Vice Dean
\nTwo Assistant Deans
\nTwo Development Officers<\/p>\n

University at Buffalo College of Arts and Sciences<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

One Dean
\nNine Associate Deans
\nSeven Assistant Deans
\nTwelve Directors\u00a0<\/strong>(emphasis added. P.Z.)<\/p>\n

Note: While the campus sizes differ, such differences are NOT the origin of the difference:<\/p>\n

SUNY Buffalo: \u00a021,607 undergraduate enrollment
\nSUNY Binghamton: \u00a013,986
\nSUNY Albany: \u00a013,593
\nSUNY Stony Brook: \u00a017,522<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.suny.edu\/attend\/visit-us\/complete-campus-list<\/a><\/span> accessed November 7, 2019<\/p>\n

Paul Zarembka, Grievance Officer for Academics, UUP Buffalo Center<\/strong><\/p>\n

UUP filed grievances on behalf of several members who were non-renewed. All of the cases were ultimately resolved, in the members\u2019 favor.<\/p>\n

An adjunct\u2019s courses were canceled after the appointment letter was signed. UUP was able to successfully challenge the cancelation.<\/p>\n

UUP has filed three Improper Practice charges under the Taylor Law for unilateral changes to employees\u2019 work schedules and increases in workload. UUP and SUNY are working with the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) to try to resolve these issues.<\/p>\n

UUP successfully clarified with UB that employees cannot have a dress code unilaterally imposed upon them. Dress Code includes being told that you cannot wear jeans to work.<\/p>\n

Tara Singer-Blumberg, NYSUT\/UUP Labor Relations Specialist<\/strong><\/p>\n

On October 30, 2019 UB hosted a historic meeting where the New York State Senate on Higher Education Committee conducted a hearing on the affordability and funding of higher education for the first time at the University at Buffalo.\u00a0 \u00a0This hearing was an effort by our New York State Senators to listen to concerns about why funding SUNY is important.\u00a0\u00a0 NYS Senators sought to understand the impact of reduced state funding, while at the same time increasing mandatory expenses on its public institutions in an era of declining enrollments at\u00a0many of the SUNY campuses.\u00a0 \u00a0Your Buffalo UUP Chapter played a critical role in this meeting by organizing testimony and generating attendees for this event.\u00a0\u00a0 UUP President Fred Kowal stated that close to 70% of the cost of public higher education is falling on students, where prior to 2008 it was about 30%.\u00a0\u00a0 If we are going to be a public higher education system, then New York State simply needs to invest in public education.<\/p>\n

UUP leaders continue to meet with state elected officials to raise issues of staff shortages and an overreliance on adjunct faculty—who work at terribly how salaries throughout SUNY.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0What was alarming was the lack of urgency expressed by SUNY\u2019s leadership.\u00a0 Even though SUNY budgets have been flat for a decade, there was no strong call for the state to take up its responsibility to the SUNY system.\u00a0\u00a0 At the UB hearing, it was alarming to see Tim Kennedy ask Beth Delgenio if the University is seeking assistance to pay off the $2 million a month loan payment for the medical school?\u00a0\u00a0 The response to the question was affirmative, but it was shocking to many UUP\u2019ers why the ask was not in the initial statement by the university to the Senators.\u00a0\u00a0 This story can be seen throughout state hearings as the Senators try to understand.\u00a0 \u00a0UUP is working on yours and SUNY\u2019s behalf.\u00a0 We are ready for the work required to make SUNY to once again be the progressive champion our nation needs.\u00a0 Together we will fight and make this happen.<\/p>\n

Kat Kielar, Secretary, UUP Buffalo Center<\/strong><\/p>\n

We are always looking for our members to become active participants in their union.\u00a0 Please consider volunteering for our events, committees or run for a board seat.\u00a0 Need information on the many opportunities, please contact the chapter office at 716.276.3377 or buffalocenter@uupmail.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Together We Win<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Your UUP Buffalo Center Officers<\/p>\n

Ezra Zubrow \u2013 President
\nShirley Bennett \u2013 VP for Academics
\nKen Kern \u2013 VP for Professionals
\nKevin Ragland \u2013 Treasurer
\nKat Kielar – Secretary<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Together We Fight November 2019 Will UB Support Increased Graduate Student Stipends? The announcement that all but six departments within the twenty-nine departments of the College of Arts and Sciences were not to be given permission to recruit for Graduate Assistants for the 2020-21 academic year led to a successful petition — supported by the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"table_tags":[],"class_list":["post-2233","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nUUP Accomplishments - November 2019 - UUP Buffalo Center<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow\" \/>\n<meta name=\"googlebot\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"bingbot\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"http:\/\/uuphost.org\/buffalo\/2019\/11\/26\/uup-accomplishments-november-2019\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"UUP Accomplishments - November 2019 - UUP Buffalo Center\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Together We Fight November 2019 Will UB Support Increased Graduate Student Stipends? 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