UUP Statement in Response to President Tripathi’s University Financial Update of 10/12/2020
The Buffalo Center Chapter of UUP presents the following in response to President Tripathi’s University Financial Update of 10/12/2020, specifically:
“Unfunded negotiated salary increases continue to be the university’s most pressing long-term financial concern. Two years ago, the funding of one-time retroactive costs associated with the new contract helped offset some of the immediate impact. However, we estimate that the new contract will cost UB $50 million in recurring funds when fully executed. This, in addition to the $30.6 million already incurred under the last contract, will bring the university’s total cost to at least $81 million recurring, with no associated increase in recurring sources. In the fall 2020 semester, in an effort to keep the cost of higher education affordable, no increases were implemented to Academic Excellence and Success fee or tuition rates. “
To begin with, UUP is not responsible for the failure of SUNY to secure money that the state has negotiated for salary increases.
Clearly, represented staff and faculty salaries and our basic cost of living raises have again been singled out as the biggest “pressing long-term financial concern” by the President, a concern that did not see the administration advocating for during the hearings for higher education last year. It is also a line that members have witnessed deans and administrators use previous to the pandemic, as a reason for cuts to budgets or programming. The burden here is that the state has failed to provide for its public education system, including the cost of hiring and retaining highly skilled scholars and professionals, who President Tripahti only indirectly refers to as “resources”.
It is unfortunate that there was no mention of the sacrifices that faculty, staff, and students have had to make during this pandemic. No acknowledgements of the major innovations in teaching, work, and learning members have made. UUP members’ resilience resulted in the ability to make seamless changes to the operations of the university. UB researchers and healthcare professionals continue to work diligently on COVID-19 related challenges. No commitment to staff or our students, just “to diligently and strategically steward our resources.”
UUP would like to take this opportunity to reiterate our commitment to higher education, the safety and welfare of our workforce and students as well as the amazing work being done by our members – who are more than just a resource line. The United University Professions will continue to support its membership not only on the local Chapter level, but Statewide in Albany as well.
In Solidarity,
UUP Buffalo Center Chapter Board