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As the state’s budget situation worsened, UUP kept up its fight to save SUNY from additional budget cuts while seeking to restore $148 million that had already been cut.
To help wage the budget battle, UUP wrapped up its ambitious drive to enlarge its corps of advocates by completing the last of its six advocacy training sessions. The ultimate goal is to have this group of advocates train other members to spread the message that SUNY is the solution in these tough economic times.
“I think the main message is that it’s wholly important for us to change the paradigm on the way we’ve done advocacy,” UUP President Phillip Smith told more than a dozen members during a training session in Albany. “We must talk with legislators in our home districts. What we have to convey to them is that SUNY is a major economic force in New York.”
The members, from the union’s UAlbany, Delhi, Oneonta, and Empire State College chapters, got the training they needed to advocate for SUNY before state lawmakers in their local districts and the information needed to forge coalitions with business owners, parents and students.
The training drive picked up steam when over 30 members gathered in Long Island to learn what it takes to be a UUP advocate, during a session that drew members from Stony Brook, Stony Brook HSC, Farmingdale and Old Westbury. Outreach Committee co-chair Glenn McNitt, who led the training, said SUNY has never faced such a dire situation.
“That’s why we’ve changed our advocacy strategy. We can’t wait for Albany in January,” he explained. “We want you to start working right now. We are the solution.”
“We are the solution to New York’s economic problems, not Wall Street,” said Stony Brook’s Director of Governmental Relations Janet Rolph, who addressed the group. “We will craft our message in partnership with UUP.”
McNitt stressed the importance of going out into the community, and making connections to identify those who can help. He explained that forming such coalitions builds clout when meeting with lawmakers in their home districts.
“Walking in with a diverse group of people gives you more import at home,” McNitt said. “Also, walking in as a constituent is a pretty powerful position for you to be in.”
The trainees engaged in role-playing exercises, practicing their newly acquired skills with Stony Brook UUPers John Schmidt, Arthur Shertzer and Charles McAteer cast in the role of lawmakers.
“I learned how to forge relationships with other groups, so that they can join with us and have an active role in meetings with legislators, thus broadening our base,” said Nora Galambos of Stony Brook, after the training concluded.
“It’s clear that SUNY needs everyone’s cooperation to save the University,” added Old Westbury Chapter Vice President for Professionals Eliliana Martinez.
In a significant gesture of support, NYSUT President Richard Iannuzzi paid a visit to Stony Brook HSC Oct. 21.
“NYSUT has been there for higher education,” said the leader of UUP’s statewide affiliate. “Being on a SUNY campus allows me to show we stand shoulder to shoulder with our higher ed members and always have.”
Iannuzzi met with UUP members as he toured the soon-to-be-opened new hospital wing housing the Woman and Infants Center, and visited a class being taught by Stony Brook Chapter member Stephen Smith.
The NYSUT president also appeared before more than 30 UUPers at a meeting of the chapter’s Executive Board, where he said NYSUT was working with UUP President Smith “to address the big hits that higher education has taken.”
“We’re saying to the state: don’t treat higher education like everyone else, as if it’s just another state agency,” Iannuzzi said. He emphasized he brought his concerns to Gov. David Paterson in a face-to-face meeting.
“I told him that more cuts would be devastating to higher education,” he said.
Iannuzzi also echoed President Smith’s earlier lament about the lack of any plan from SUNY’s administration to respond to $96 million in cuts ordered by the governor in late July.
“They (SUNY) have not stressed how damaging these cuts are, the way UUP has,” he said.
UUP President Smith expressed his gratitude for the support demonstrated by Iannuzzi.
“Having a visit by NYSUT’s president clearly shows our statewide affiliate and its 600,000 members stand in solidarity with us, especially at this critical time,” Smith said. “Our members not only at Stony Brook HSC, but across the state are reassured that NYSUT is in our corner.”
— Donald Feldstein