On December 6th, 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 and Menorah 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!
We have added an additional “UUP 101” webinar for those who have been unable to attend previous workshops. This workshop will cover UUP’s structure, who we are, who we represent, what we do, and our role in the larger labor movement.
Webinars will now be held on:
Wednesday, December 10 from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM Wednesday, January 7 from 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Over 12 million people in the United States are struggling to make their monthly student loan payments, and millions more see economic and personal opportunities pass as they prioritize paying down their debt. Does this sound like you or someone you know?
Many of these people may qualify for free federal programs that can help reduce their monthly payments and eventually lead to student loan forgiveness, but these lifeline programs are significantly under-enrolled. In an effort to help our members get access to these programs, United University Professions and the American Federation of Teachers are proud to host a Student Debt Clinic which will provide information on how to enroll in Income-Driven Repayment plans and Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
We will be offering virtual Members Only Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Clinics on the following dates:
Wednesday, December 3, 2025 from 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM via Zoom
Wednesday, December 17, 2025 from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM via Zoom
To attend one of the virtual Members Only Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Clinics, you must pre-register here: http://go.aft.org/StudentDebtClinicRSVP. From the “student debt clinic” drop down menu, please select the UUP clinic that you are interested in attending – they are labeled “UUP [Virtual Student Debt Clinic] [date] [time].” In the affiliate field, type in the full name of our local (United University Professions), and it will autofill after a few keystrokes.
Registration is first-come, first-serve, and we must cap attendance for a single clinic at 125 participants to ensure that we are able to provide maximum assistance to attendees. Registration will close 48 hours prior to the virtual clinic. Webinar login information will be provided prior to the clinic to all who register. [If you can’t make one of these virtual clinics, don’t worry – we’re planning on offering them every payday. If you want to help host a chapter-specific virtual clinic, please let us know!]
Managing your student loan debt is the first step in taking on the inequities which plague our system of higher education, and we look forward to seeing you at the virtual Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Clinic and working together to find a collective solution to the problems of student debt and college affordability!
Register now!
Jeri
She / Her / Hers
Jeri O’Bryan-Losee, MA, MS, MSEd United University Professions Statewide Secretary-Treasurer NYSUT Board of Directors, ED41 AFT PPC Member
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!
“Harvest Your Union Benefits” UUP’s Know Your Negotiated Benefits webinar is scheduled for Monday, November 10 2025, at 12PM. Learn all about UUP’s extensive benefits package and other discounted services.
Please use the link to register: https://forms.gle/NrLCMpVnZJMAbnSQ7
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.
As part of Campus Equity Week, UUP is hosting an Oct. 29 virtual panel discussion of the independent film “Adjunct,” featuring a question-and-answer session with filmmaker and former adjunct Ron Najor.
The event starts at 5:30 p.m. Panelists are Najor, who starts in the 2024 film; Jaclyn Pittsley, UUP’s Contingent Employment Committee chair and a statewide Executive Board member; Bret Benjamin, UUP’s chief negotiator and Executive Board member; and NYSUT Labor Relations Specialist Chris Sielaff.
The panel will draw comparisons between the film and how job protections UUP successfully secured through collective bargaining agreements with the state have produced big wins for adjuncts. Panelists will also talk about the UUP’s current contract with the state benefits adjuncts.
Registration is required to view the panel discussion. Click HERE to register:
UUP members can view a free livestream of “Adjunct” at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25. That event is sponsored by Higher Education Labor United (HELU). UUP is a founding member of HELU, a national organization formed in 2021 to unite higher ed workers across the country.
Click HERE to register for the HELU free screening and for more information:
Click HERE to view the trailer from the film, or watch below:
UUP members who aren’t able to view “Adjunct” on Oct. 25 can contact their chapter officers for information about “Adjunct” watch parties and other ways and times to view the movie. Last year, UUP delegates unanimously designated the last full week of October as UUP Campus Equity Week, a national initiative that highlights working conditions and contributions of contingent faculty (part-time, adjunct, and other non-tenure-track instructors) in higher education.
