Colleagues,
I’m sharing the following information to ensure you are fully informed about the Discretionary Funds (DSI) available to UUP members for 2025. These funds are established through UUP contract negotiations (July 2, 2022 – July 1, 2026) and are distributed by the university.
Under the contract, one‑half of one percent (0.5%) of UUP payroll is allocated to the university for discretionary distribution to UUP members. For 2025, this total is $1,549,151 for just over 4000 people in our bargaining unit.
We recognize that many members are dissatisfied with the DSI process, particularly because it does not consistently reflect merit. Over the years, the percentage of payroll allocated to DSI has steadily decreased, and we hope to continue that trend in the upcoming round of contract negotiations. We are also pressing the State to adopt clear, measurable criteria for how DSI is awarded.
Please also note that these funds keep valuable faculty at the University, bring salaries in line with similar positions nationwide, and show appreciation to colleagues who have exhibited merit.
Ultimately, improvements to this process depend on what we achieve at the bargaining table—and your engagement in that process matters. Staying informed and involved strengthens our position. UUP has notified the State that we are ready to begin negotiating a new contract; however, the State has not yet agreed to come to the table. Please stay tuned as we continue to press the state to sit down with us.
In solidarity,
Kat Kielar
Chapter President
UUP Buffalo Center