Category: General

Just in from SUNY Empire:

The Flex Spending Account (FSA) Open Enrollment Campaign for the 2023 plan year begins November 1 and ends December 12, 2022 at 11:59 pm ET.  This deadline is strictly enforced.  If you are enrolled for the 2022 plan year, you must re-enroll to continue your benefits in 2023. 

The FSA program consists of three important benefits for employees:

• the Health Care Spending Account (HCSA – for at least half-time, annually paid employees only)
• the Dependent Care Advantage Account (DCAA)
• the Adoption Advantage Account

Eligible employees may choose to enroll in any or all of the accounts. This flyer includes additional information about eligibility and the available accounts.  Please note, if you become inactive on payroll, your enrollment in the FSA is automatically discontinued and it is your responsibility to re-enroll when you return to active status.

To enroll, submit your application online here or by telephone at 1-800-358-7202.  You will need your NYS Employee ID number, located on your paystub, to complete your application.

For questions, or more information, please call 800-358-7202 or e-mail fsa@oer.ny.gov or visit oer.ny.gov/FSA

From Fred Kowal:

On Wednesday, November 2nd at 6pm labor unions and supporters from across the Capital Region will rally at the Albany Labor Temple in support of Gov. Kathy Hochul, Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado and the rest of the slate of candidates endorsed by UUP and NYSUT. This is a critical election for our members. We have developed a strong and productive relationship with the Governor and her team. In the final stretch we must show up, speak up, and vote.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1UR_w6qIDMnbf5Zmy5kyPs-rDLbrTeLX0HWeeYXqh85g/edit

Please wear your UUP red! If you need a UUP t-shirt, please email Celine Mell at cmell@uupmail.org to coordinate.

Hope to see you there!

Good Afternoon…

The NYSUT Social Justice Department invites you to participate in a workshop from NYSUT’s Many Threads, One Fabric. This training is titled “Sticks & Stones: Understanding Implicit Bias & Stereotypes.”

The workshop will be held virtually on Saturday, October 29, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (Breaks will be provided) Participants will explore the meaning of implicit and explicit bias as well as discover ways to confront and combat the bias within ourselves and others.

The purpose is to empower our members in raising awareness of the role that implicit bias plays in our classrooms, the education system, and the impact it has on our students, families and colleagues.

You must register for the workshop using the link below, by or before Close of Business on October 27, 2022.  

You are invited to a Zoom meeting.

When: Oct 29, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://nysut.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJckdOiupjotGdyqmNaBnPtJ_1u8da5QE5R2

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

In solidarity,

Philippe

J. Philippe Abraham

He, Him, El

Secretary-Treasurer, NYSUT

We have just gotten word that the Division of Budget has released Budget Bulletin D-1200,  Budget Bulletin D-1200 (ny.gov), which contains directions to state agencies concerning  how the health care retention bonuses will be paid to state employees. This covers SUNY employees who are performing qualifying service, in qualifying titles, who will be eligible for these bonuses. We are presently studying the documents to get as clear a picture as possible as to who is included. 

Having said that, those working in qualifying service in qualifying titles at the SUNY hospitals, at the UB dental school, at Optometry, and in student health clinics at all SUNY campuses will be eligible.  Individual employees will not be required to apply for or submit any individual documentation to qualify, SUNY management will be responsible for identifying all employees who qualify.  

This is a big win for our members and is the result of lots of hard work in advocacy with the governor’s office. Stay tuned for more information.

UUP is participating in this year’s Capital District Labor Parade being held on Friday, September 9, in Albany!  We’re excited to invite you to this fun solidarity event! 

Line up starts at 5:15 PM. Please note that parking is at the Corning Preserve and attendees will be shuttled to the Parade start at Academy Park across from the State Capitol. As a show of solidarity as we are in contract negotiations, please wear your red UUP t-Shirt! 

When: Friday, Sept. 9, 2022 6:00 PM

Where: New York State Education Department Building, 89 Washington Avenue Albany, NY 12234

Cost: FREE ADMISSION

Phone: 518-783-9957

Schedule:

5:00 pm – Arrival time, park at the Corning Preserve beneath 787. CDTA buses will shuttle participants to the Parade Start (Academy Park across from State Capitol). Parade lineup below NYS Education Building.

5:15 pm-5:30 pm – Parade lineup

6:00 pm – Parade begins

There will be food, music, a rock wall, game truck, and fireworks at dark.

UUP has gotten the telecommuting agreement extended to December 31st, 2022. We continue to fight for it to be extended further as well as to get it into our next contract.

Dear Colleagues,   On Labor Day, Monday, September 5, working people across the country will celebrate the achievements of the labor movement. I’m writing to invite you to join UUP, the AFL-CIO, Central Labor Councils across New York State, and our coalition partners on Labor Day as we honor the hard work of our union colleagues and friends. This is an important show of solidarity, not only among UUP and its membership, but with the statewide labor movement.   Additionally, on Saturday, Sept. 10, UUP will be participating in the nation’s largest Labor Day Parade in New York City!   We urge you and your colleagues to join us—please share this information widely.   Click HERE to register and find out more information about an event near you:   Western New York: Labor Day Parade, Sept. 5 Capital District: BBQ Picnic and Celebration, Sept. 5 Syracuse, NY: NYS Fair Labor Day Parade, Sept. 5 Massena, NY: Labor Day Parade and Solidarity Celebration, Sept. 5 New York City: NYC Labor Day Parade, Sept. 10   In solidarity,   Frederick E. Kowal, Ph.D. President United University Professions