Author: Derrick

Colleagues,

After months of observing the struggles that SUNY campuses encountered due to the lack of strong guidance from SUNY’s leadership prior to the start of the fall semester, and after gathering input from our chapters through chapter presidents, vice presidents, labor relations specialists, organizers and – most importantly — member town halls and webinars, UUP has finalized its guidelines for a safe reopening for the spring semester. We have built on the experiences of this semester and the work that SUNY has done since the arrival of Chancellor Malatras to create what I believe to be the strongest possible set of guidelines for SUNY to follow across the system. These guidelines call for SUNY to expand the testing of students upon arrival at campus in late January, increase the scope of surveillance testing throughout the semester, assure that campuses have sufficient on-campus contact training capability, and address air quality issues in many of its buildings. The guidelines also call for campuses to actively promote voluntary flu vaccination and to take action (though EAP and otherwise) to better address COVID-related mental health concerns of employees.

UUP Spring 2021 Reentry Principles Final

It is important to understand that our ongoing conversations with SUNY’s leadership have been very productive on all levels regarding the safety and health of our workplaces and communities. We have solicited input from and engaged in continuous conversations with chapter leaders to represent the concerns of our members across our hospitals and various types of campuses.  Furthermore, it is clear that as COVID cases continue to rise in New York (though hopefully not at the rates we are seeing in so many other states) these conversations with our members and with SUNY will be crucial to ensure that the steps SUNY eventually takes at the start of the semester protect all of us from this deadly plague. The guidelines we are presenting you with will continue to form the main points of discussion with SUNY.

I would especially like to thank the hard work done by the UUP Statewide Ad Hoc Health and Safety Committee, chaired by Dr. Phil Glick from UB in forging this latest version of guidelines. Their input has been crucial to its content and completion.

Let’s hope that this is the last semester we must prepare for in this fashion. Our institutions, our work environments, our professional lives, and our emotional health are all suffering during this terribly challenging time. I want to recognize – and thank – our colleagues who have served our communities with such distinction, at the frontlines of this pandemic in the SUNY hospitals and in offices across SUNY that deal directly with students and the public.  Your work has been exemplary, and I will continue to fight for just compensation and recognition of your great public service.

I urge you to do all that you can to take care of yourselves, your loved ones, and our communities. Please take all precautions to protect yourselves from the coronavirus during the upcoming holiday season. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, but there is a long and difficult journey to that hoped-for relief. Let us sustain ourselves and each other, knowing that we are doing the work necessary to build a more just, safe, and equitable society. It’s what we do and who we are.

In Solidarity,
Fred

Colleagues,

Over the past several years, UUP has been involved in the work of NY Renews — a coalition of groups and unions committed to dealing with the climate crisis. NY Renews has shared a few opportunities for UUP members to be involved in their ongoing advocacy efforts. I encourage you to participate and share these opportunities with your colleagues, as the work is vital to our collective goals as part of the progressive movement and since many of our members are engaged in environmental actions in their personal lives.

First, NY Renews is hosting a mass call this Friday, Nov. 20 at 12 pm aimed at folks who are new to NY Renews or need a refresher on their big plans for 2021. During the call, NY Renews will be sharing opportunities to join their organizing efforts going forward. Register for the call here. Sample social media posts and graphics advertising the call can be found here.

Second, NY Renews is launching a new lobbying effort for the first half of December. In the next week, they need to lock in lobby leads, the most important piece to making this a success. If you are interested in leading or joining the lobby event, please fill out this form.

Thanks for doing this. Every step we can take to improve our lives must be taken during these difficult times.

In solidarity,
Fred

Colleagues,

I encourage you to join educators across the nation and sign the Shaker Institute Democracy Declaration that states: “We, the undersigned educators in pre-K-12 schools, colleges and universities, representatives of schools across the United States, endorse democracy as a means of giving voice to each one of us, of expressing the dignity of each individual, of representing the values of our society, and of ensuring the lawful transition of authority. Every freedom depends upon the freedom to vote. Each vote counts; count each vote.”

Our democracy is under attack daily by the current administration. We must continue our fight to elect candidates that will fight to protect democracy for all. Please join us in this fight by signing the declaration here and then sharing it with your colleagues and encouraging them to sign as well.

In solidarity,
Fred

Colleagues,

I’m excited to announce UUP is joining forces with New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) to host a virtual rally to pressure the legislature to return to Albany and reinstate the New York Stock Transfer Tax.

New York’s Stock Transfer Tax had been levied on stock trades since 1905, but since 1981, the tax has been rebated back to Wall Street. If fully collected, the Stock Transfer Tax is estimated to raise between $14-$19 billion annually. NYS Assemblymember Phil Steck and Senator James Sanders have introduced legislation to require the state to keep the proceeds from this tax (see: A.7791-B/S.6203-A). UUP has been advocating for this important piece of legislation, and it’s time to ramp up our efforts.

To do so, UUP and NYSNA will host a virtual rally on Nov. 10 at 12 pm with unions, social justice advocates, good government groups and elected officials to push the state legislature to reconvene and take up revenue raising proposals, primarily the Stock Transfer Tax, to address the economic crisis facing New York. You can register here.

 After you register to join the rally, invite a friend, colleague, or member of the community. You can add a selfie to the Reinstate the NY Stock Transfer Tax campaign webpage and let everyone know why this rally is important to you. Our concerns and demands must be heard. You can add a selfie here.

To learn more about the various revenue raising proposals and the need for public higher education and health care funding, visit the campaign page here: https://uupinfo.org/resources/raisingrevenue/. Revisit this page often, as a social media toolkit and postcard campaign will be coming soon.

Attached is a graphic that can be used to advertise the event to your members and via social media.

Please share this information widely.

In solidarity,
Fred

Colleagues,

We continue to prepare for the November 3 election on all fronts. One important piece is sharing important information with our colleagues, friends and family via social media. Attached is a social media toolkit with sample graphics, posts and important links that can be used on personal and chapter social media pages. With important deadlines quicky approaching, it is important to share these graphics and posts widely on social media to help spread the word.

Election 2020- UUP Social Media Resources

Please reach out to Amy Sheldon, asheldon@uupmail.org, with any questions or concerns.

In solidarity,
Fred

Colleagues,

I hope that this email finds you well. I know that it is easy to feel disconnected and alone in our fights during this very difficult time. It is more important than ever that we find ways to stay connected. With that said, there is a great opportunity quickly approaching that will allow us to connect and share best practices on fighting for social justice issues, and against austerity budgets and the threats on collective bargaining. Let’s connect on the October 16 and 17 UUP Committee Training. Thank you for those who have already registered. I hope that you will be able to join us and invite others to join as well. It is more important than ever to find ways to build deeper connections and power amongst our members and our coalitions to help us succeed in these critical fights.

I wanted to share a few more details as the event gets closer. The tentative outline for the two days is as follows:

Day One—Friday, October 16 (1PM – 4PM): Committee training to enhance advocacy on issues of concerns for UUP statewide committees. Advancing the goals and agendas of our committees through coalition work.

 Friday will include the coalition partners panel, which will be led by chapter leaders and local coalition partners to share their experiences building strong community partnerships and discuss their issue-base campaigns, strategies and actions they have found to be most successful. If you would like to be considered for the issue-based coalition partner panel, please submit your names here no later than tomorrow, October 9 (this date has been extended). All panel decisions will be made by October 10. If you and your coalition partner are selected, you will be provided with additional information to share with your coalition partner on how to join as a panelist for this workshop.

Day Two—Saturday, October 17 (9AM to Noon): Election 2020 and activism

·         NYS Biden Campaign Director Presentation

·         AFT Election Update: Polling, State of the Race, What are we doing to make a difference and Virtual Phone Bank Training

·         Virtual phone banking or texting

 You can register for the two-day virtual event here. Space is limited and registration for this two-day event will close October 13 or when we reach capacity. Login information will be sent to registrants the week of the event.

Please feel free to share this invitation broadly. However, Employee Organizational Leave (EOL) is only available for statewide committee members. Due to the political nature of the day two activities planned, EOL is available for Friday only and again is available only for statewide committee members.

I look forward to connecting with all of you on October 16 and October 17.

In solidarity,
Fred