Thanks to the continued pressure from UUP (both local and Statewide), the recent announcement by UB to participate in partnering with Upstate Medical Center for Surveillance Testing is a major victory for our members, UUP and UB community. Yet today’s article in UBNow still did not indicate that faculty and staff who are randomly selected will be given the option to NOT take this test. This is just the latest example of why UB needs to consult with UUP PRIOR to rolling out policy.
An e-mail received this morning from statewide President Fred Kowal expressed this decision as “Very, very good news. In my conversations with the new Chancellor, he expressed thanks for our collective efforts in pressuring campus presidents to take up this necessary step. And I know that he has pressed hard on UB to comply with this demand.”This reversal of UB’s initial decision in early August, to NOT participate in this statewide program offered to all SUNY campuses, is just the latest in changes to COVID plans made by the university which were changed or modified due to the continued pressure from your UUP. Past victories include:
– the mandatory 7 day quarantine requirement of staff before returning to campus being changed to recommended.
– the variety of changes and elimination of some processes regarding the initial announced required Daily Health Check including the frequency of completing this check, and need to print out or screenshot the access pass allowing you on campus. We have been told to look for continued modifications on this in September, to address additional concerns presented by members of your Buffalo Center UUP.
As we are now in our first week of classes, UUP continues to closely monitor on what is currently happening at other SUNY facilities, other New York State college campuses, and other campuses throughout the country. The Buffalo Center UUP army of Chapter Officers, Department Reps, and Health and Safety Committee members, will continue to closely monitor any policy changes made, and failures to enforce policies already made by the university, in order to remain dedicated to our first priority during this COVID Crisis – the Safety and Health of our members.
In Solidarity,
Ken Kern
Chapter President
UUP Buffalo Center