Department Representatives

We would like to invite YOU to become a Department Representative. Even if your Department is represented on the list below, you can become a member of the team. There is no limit to the number of Reps that a Department may have.

The Buffalo Center UUP derives its strength from its Membership. The Department Representative Program is designed to connect ALL members to their union. The program ensures two-way communication between chapter leadership and the membership. As the the eyes and ears of the chapter, Reps are essential to our success.

Department Representatives serve as Chapter Leaders and internal organizing leaders at their specific worksites. As a Department Representative you help develop and maintain a strong union presence in every part of the University via effective employee advocacy, union visibility, union site meetings and other forms of communication, including social conversation and the sharing of news.

Basic Roles and Responsibilities include:

  • Obtain/create an accurate list of Members and non-members by location.
  • Make personal contact with all Department Members in your area.
  • Establish/maintain UUP bulletin boards in your area.
  • Forward complaints, concerns and perceptions of the Department Members to appropriate chapter leader(s).
  • Contact non-members and encourage them to join.
  • Become familiar with what the UUP contract covers. Refer contract questions to chapter officers so they can ask the chapter’s Labor Relations Specialists for assistance with problems pertaining to enforcement or interpretation of the contract
  • Be able to answer basic questions about the structure of UUP.
  • Learn about and inform your Department Members of union meetings, events, affiliate conventions, contract votes, workshops, etc. and urge participation
  • Attend Department Rep meetings on occasion (usually 2 times per semester).

If you’re unsure about committing to this position, I would like to invite you to our next series of Department Rep meetings. Please contact Ken Kern at khkern@buffalo.edu — 716-645-5604 — to sign up to become a Department Rep, or for further information and questions you may have.

Ask About Becoming a Department Rep

Current Department Representatives