This November, more than 3 million New Yorkers are facing a hunger crisis. Between the rising costs of groceries and the disruption of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, working families across New York are at risk. The union movement will not stand by while our neighbors go hungry.
That’s why unions across New York are joining together for a statewide Week of Action. Labor Feeds New York: November 15th-23rd, 2025.
During this week, local labor federations, central labor councils and union members are encouraged to:
Feed – Donate non-perishable food to local pantries and school-based food programs.
Give – Contribute funds to hunger relief organizations making a difference in your community.
Serve – Volunteer at soup kitchens, food banks, and community meal sites.
Every act of solidarity, large or small, can help make a difference for families in need this fall.
This holiday season, UUP Oneonta is proud to partner with Cooperstown-Oneonta Indivisible to support those who have served our country and others impacted by the federal government shutdown’s lingering impact on food insecurity programs.
We encourage all UUP members to join us for the Holiday Food Drive on Saturday, December 6, to benefit the Oneonta Veteran’s Outreach Center. This is a wonderful opportunity to come together as a community, enjoy the spirit of the season, and give back to the neediest.
📅 When: Saturday, December 6 📍 Locations & Times: There are three ways you can participate and donate…
Cooperstown-Oneonta Indivisible will be marching in the Holiday Parade with shopping carts! Feel free to hand off individual non-perishable items as they pass by.
Make a Day of It! Come out to Main Street for the Holiday Parade at 3:30 PM, stay for the Tree Lighting Ceremony at 5:00 PM, and feel great about giving back at the same time.
Let’s show our veterans and neighbors the strength of our solidarity and community spirit. We hope to see you there!
This survey is intended for all UUP professionals. It seeks information about your workplace support and resources available to effectively perform your job. The survey is anonymous and takes 10 to 20 minutes to complete, depending on the level of detail you provide.
What follows is a message from Upstate Medical University Chapter President Mindy Heath, who has been working with the family of Upstate Chapter member Alex Gonzalez since he and CSEA member Yan Vazquez were detained by ICE agents Oct. 29 and sent to federal detention facility in Batavia, Genesee County.
It is unclear why the men were detained; ICE agents grabbed the men before their scheduled immigration hearing in Syracuse. A hearing on their detention is scheduled for Nov. 17 in Batavia.
“Two of our union siblings, Alex Gonzalez and Yan Vazquez, were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Oct. 29 and were sent to the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility in Batavia.
“The pair, dedicated employees in the Environmental Services Department at Upstate Medical University and proud members of UUP and CSEA respectively, now face an uncertain future. They are Cuban refugees who came to America to seek asylum.
“Recently married, Alex and Yan are homeowners in North Syracuse and are building a life together. They are good neighbors and a part of the community, as they navigate the complex path to U.S. citizenship. They were detained unexpectedly when they showed up for a scheduled immigration hearing in Mattydale in Onondaga County. They were detained before their hearing.
“ICE has made a habit of abducting immigrants seeking legal pathways to citizenship at immigration hearings, which are held in federal buildings. The sudden apprehensions of Alex and Yan have left their families and supporters bewildered, as there appears to be no justification for taking them into custody.
“State and local elected officials and community leaders have rallied around Alex and Yan and their families, emphasizing the importance of due process and the need for answers and transparency.
“On Nov. 1, Gov. Kathy Hochul met with the families of the men. She condemned ICE’s actions, telling Syracuse.com “This is a very treacherous time in our society, when individuals who lived here for years and are high-functioning members of our community working at SUNY Upstate are the ones who are defined as the worst of the worst.”
“The families also met with state senators Chris Ryan and Rachel May, who offered words of kindness and support while condemning the unjust removal of honest, hard-working individuals pursuing a legal pathway to citizenship. This kind of engagement from our leaders is a testament to the collective commitment to justice and compassion within our community, and we offer our sincere thanks for their time and support!
“The strength of union solidarity is shining brightly during this challenging time. Colleagues from UUP and CSEA have come together, along with our local union brothers and sisters in the Greater Syracuse Labor Council and Area Labor Federation communities, demonstrating unwavering support for Alex and Yan.
“Union members understand that the fight for justice extends beyond the workplace; it encompasses the fundamental rights of all individuals, especially those who have risked everything for a better life. Our unions are built on a foundation of solidarity, and we stand with Alex and Yan and will not rest until they are reunited with their families and can return to their important work at Upstate Medical University.
“The urgency of this situation cannot be overstated. Alex and Yan are not just employees; they are vital members of our community. Their contributions extend beyond their jobs; they are friends, neighbors, and family. The impact of their absence is palpable.
“Family members have been able to visit with both men in the Batavia detention center. They report that Alex and Yan are being treated well and conditions at the facility are clean. Still, the fear family members have for their safety—and their futures—is intense.
“A hearing for Yan is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 17; family members believe this will be a joint hearing for both men. The hearing will be held at 4250 Federal Drive, Room F108, in Batavia before Judge James McCarthy.
“As we stand with Alex and Yan, our goal remains clear: to secure their release, ensure they receive due process, and bring them back to their families and the community they love. Together, we will continue to advocate for their rights and the rights of all those who seek refuge and a better life in our great country.
“In these times of uncertainty, let us remember that our commitment to justice and humanity must prevail. Alex and Yan’s story is not just about their individual experiences; it reflects the broader struggle for dignity and respect for all immigrants. As a community, we must remain vigilant and united, ensuring that their journey toward citizenship continues without further obstacles.
“Stay tuned for ways to help show your support! Rallies are being planned to raise up our voices in solidarity with our union siblings, supporters throughout the community, and the families of Alex and Yan.”
Friday, November 7 is a National Higher Ed Day of Action on which labor, student groups and allies will join together to demand the kind of higher education system our communities deserve. Across the country, we’re speaking out for:
Strong protections for academic freedom and freedom of expression
Affordable and well-funded higher education
Safe and welcoming campuses for all students
Fair wages and secure employment for higher ed workers
In addition to gatherings at some of our chapters, UUP will be hosting a statewide virtual session on Protecting Academic Freedom in Turbulent Times. We invite all UUP members to join us to address how Academic Freedom is essential to the integrity of our institutions and to the work of everyone in UUP (not just academic employees); to learn about UUP’s contractual protections for Academic Freedom and recent legal developments in this area; and to and to discuss how union members can defend this critical right.
The session will be held from 12-1.30pm on Friday, November 7.CLICK HERE to register:
Wednesday, November 19, 2025 Professional’s Luncheon with Statewide Vice President for Professionals Carolyn Kube 12:00 PM – Morris Hall, Le Cafe Lunch: Greek Salad Buffet
Wednesday, November 19, 2025 UUP Unplugged: Topics and Conversation Put your phones, laptops, and computers on pause, and join our union members to talk about current events and connect with your colleagues. 3:00 PM – Morris Conference Center, Room 104
Refreshments will be served
NO RSVP REQUIRED!
Friday, December 5, 2025 UUP Holiday Dinner Celebration — SAVE THE DATE — 6:00 PM – The Elks Lodge, 84 Chestnut Street, Oneonta, NY 13820
Wednesday, December 10, 2025 UUP Unplugged: Topics and Conversation Put your phones, laptops, and computers on pause, and join our union members to talk about current events and connect with your colleagues. 3:00 PM – Human Ecology, Martha Pratt Suite Room 144
Refreshments will be served
NO RSVP REQUIRED!
The next chapter meetings are on November 12 and December 10 in Morris Conference Center, Le Cafe. Chapter meetings are held the 2nd Wednesday of each month. Lunch provided! RSVP at the links below:
To kick off Indigenous Peoples Month, the statewide DEI committee is featuring a panel discussion about indigenous people’s history around NYS entitled “Erasing History and Stealing Futures” – featuring Melissa Parker Leonard, M. Ed, & Jeremy Dennis MFA.
The discussion will be focused on Ely S. Parker’s life and legacy and the Shinnecock Nation’s path to federal recognition. Ely S. Parker was an engineer, U.S. Army officer, aide to General Ulysses S. Grant, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and the ancestor of Melissa Parker Leonard. In highlighting his life and legacy here, she is directly combatting current attempts to erase his contributions to the United States that are occurring under the orders of the current department of Defense/War.
Jeremy Dennis is a contemporary fine art photographer, an enrolled Tribal Member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation in Southampton, NY, and the founder and lead artist of Ma’s House & BIPOC Art Studio, Inc., a nonprofit art space and residency program on the Shinnecock Reservation dedicated to uplifting Indigenous and BIPOC artists.
His work center’s Indigenous identity, culture, and the legacies of colonial assimilation, using photography to stage cinematic, otherworldly narratives rooted in Native oral stories, history, and contemporary experience.
You have likely heard about the Federal administration’s offer of a “compact” with nine Research universities that would, if agreed to, effectively abolish academic freedom and institutional autonomy at those campuses. It is critical that our union join the chorus of Higher Ed voices speaking out against this proposal. See a message below from our national affiliate, the AFT, and click to sign on to a letter calling upon university leaders to reject this compact.
In solidarity,
Frederick E. Kowal, Ph.D. President United University Professions
Under the Trump compact, a successful childhood cancer research project could be cut off because the university allows trans athletes to play on a team. A lab focused on ensuring a clean water supply could be shut down because the university’s mission includes promoting diversity in the student body. A nursing school could lose critical funding because professors are teaching about women’s history.
This policy is a clumsy attempt at thought-policing that will have repercussions for all of society. It risks America’s world leadership in science, technology, innovation and healthcare, creating opportunities for our competitors and our enemies to take the lead. It sets us backward toward an era of less innovation, fewer cures for diseases and a shrinking economy.
I encourage you to be active, participate in our advocacy efforts, and add your voice to the cause of our union. Your ideas and suggestions are critical for us to create a comprehensive agenda to take to the State Capitol.
In Solidarity,
Fred
Frederick E. Kowal, PhD President United University Professions
The Trump Administration is proposing a rule to eliminate the Duration of Status (DS) for international students. This proposed rule, issued on August 28, 2025, replaces the current DS period with a system that admits international students to a stay no longer than four years barring an expensive and lengthy application for an extension.
The administration has already begun a brief 30-day comment period. We urge UUP members and higher ed advocates to submit comments to stress how this proposed rule would harm our students and institutions. The implementation of this rule would:
Restrict the number of international students attending SUNY campuses and campuses across the United States by curtailing the amount of time students could take to complete academic programs; the rule would likely deter many students from seeking higher education in the US at all.
Have a detrimental effect on graduate programs since the median time to complete a Ph.D. for all students in the US is 5.7 years. Many graduate programs would risk losing all of their international students.
Reduce human and intellectual capital across the country. Many international students seek to stay in the US and work legally after their studies are complete; US companies would lose access to their skill and talent.
Be unnecessary. International student visa holders are already the most closely monitored group of nonimmigrants in the US.
Please COMMENT HERE on the damage that this rule change would inflict!
Labor Relations Specialist Workshop: Problem Solving in the Unionized Workplace: Gripes, Grievances, and Everything In-Between with NYSUT Labor Relations Specialist Chris Sielaff 12:00 PM — Morris Hall, Le Cafe Lunch: Fajita Bar
Labor Relations Specialist Workshop: Getting to Tenure with NYSUT Labor Relations Specialist Chris Sielaff 9 AM — Morris Hall, Le Cafe Breakfast: Coffee, Tea, Pastries, Fresh Fruit
The next chapter meetings are on SEPTEMBER 10 and OCTOBER 8 in Morris Hall, Le Cafe. Chapter Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month. Lunch provided.
For the full schedule of chapter meetings, visit the links below:
