UUP President Phil Smith sent a strong message about the importance of coalition building to more than 300 delegates and observers at the 2011 Winter Delegate Assembly and pressed them to activate members on their campuses to step up and spread the word to “think ahead, invest in higher ed.”

Delegates also took action on a number of resolutions at the DA, held Feb. 4-5

in Albany. They decided to continue UUP’s relationship with the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and approved several measures, including support for the continuation of the so-called “millionaire’s tax” and the state’s anti-bullying Healthy Workplace Bill (see related story at right).

During his address to members, Smith detailed Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposed Executive Budget, which calls for a 10 percent reduction in state funding to

SUNY, and massive Medicaid funding reductions and cutting $154 million in subsidies to the University’s three teaching hospitals.

ONE VOICE

Smith emphasized the need for coalition building at the DA. UUP is working with New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness that supports a quality educational system for New York, along with affordable health care and housing, and other essentials for job growth and a thriving state economy (http://ABetterChoiceForNY.org).

He also said plans were being made for a March rally for public higher education with other local unions, including NYSUT and Professional Staff Congress/CUNY. With organized labor under attack, it’s important for unions to align and speak out with a united voice.

“We’ve got to get out there and let the Legislature know that enough is enough,” Smith said.

DEFENDING ACADEMIC FREEDOM

After some debate, delegates voted on a resolution regarding academic freedom. The measure reaffirmed the union’s defense of academic freedom for all bargaining unit members.

Delegates also approved setting time aside at the 2011 Fall DA for a session on academic freedom for academics and professionals.

OK FOR AAUP

Delegates also approved a resolution to continue UUP’s relationship with AAUP, first by a voice vote and then by hand count, 154-78. The measure, brought up at the 2010 Spring DA, was put off until the Winter DA for a vote. The union purchases 1,000 AAUP memberships yearly.

Delegates on both sides spoke passionately on the topic. A number of professionals demanded UUP disassociate with AAUP because the nationwide organization has traditionally shown little interest in professionals and their issues.

Professionals met earlier in the day to discuss UUP’s relationship with AAUP.

It was standing room only in the room; more than 100 professionals were in attendance. The UUP/AAUP issue was the meeting’s only agenda item.

“This has been going on for a decade,” said Brian Tappen, an Executive Board member from Upstate Medical University and a professional delegate. “Let’s get real about what AAUP really thinks of us.”

But UUP Vice President for Professionals John Marino said he supported continuing the UUP/AAUP partnership. AAUP has taken concrete steps to work much closer with professionals and UUP as a whole.

“If we pull out now we will never know what they could’ve done for us,” he said.

“We’re under siege,” said Artie Shertzer, Stony Brook Chapter president. “For us to disassociate with any other union now is just suicidal.”

TEACHER ED IN JEOPARDY

Meanwhile, the decimation of teacher education programs was discussed at a meeting for academic delegates.

Those who want to see public education fail are using this new tactic. The national conversation on teacher education is focused on lowering standards to rock-bottom levels and paying for public education by eliminating pay incentives for advanced degrees and seniority.

“What bothers me is that the teaching models are being proposed by consultants who will be paid to create and implement them,” said UUP Vice President for Academics Fred Floss. “They want to take education away from the experts—the faculty in these programs.”

The consultants—foundations run by Bill and Melinda Gates, Lumina, and Pearson among them—want to make it easier to become a classroom teacher and to replace teachers that fail to meet student-achievement standards that put the onus solely on teaching.

“According to one proposal, 80 percent of all first-year teachers would be fired each year as a way to ‘raise quality.’ I don’t know about you, but I can’t see how replacing teachers with more inexperienced teachers will help improve quality,” Floss said.

Floss is a member of a NYSUT Teacher Education Task Force that is developing criteria that best correlates to better student achievement. On the task force are up to three UUPers from each of the 17 SUNY state-operated campuses with teacher ed programs.

For more information or to help the task force, contact Floss at ffloss@uupmail.org.

FRANCO, COFFEY HONORED

Also at the DA, Old Westbury Chapter President Candelario “Kiko” Franco was awarded NYSUT’s Lou Cammarosano VOTE/COPE Award for exceptional performance by a UUP chapter. Old Westbury achieved a 46 percent increase in voluntary contributions in just one year.

Smith and UUP delegates expressed their thanks and best wishes to Martin Coffey, who retired earlier this year as the NYSUT/UUP director of staff.

— Michael Lisi