Looking forward to celebrating our contract gains as we move into the winter months! Remember, you can always check out our full calendar on our Events page.
November
3rd – Remote Workshop – Contract Update Noon – 1pm – Virtual RSVP BELOW FOR THE ZOOM LINK:
Election Day—Tuesday, November 3—is only 50 days away. That means we have just seven Saturdays left to shape the outcome of this election. We need to elect statewide leaders—including the Governor, Attorney General, and Comptroller—along with members of Congress and the state legislature who will defend public higher education and stand with the labor movement. The 2024 elections showed us that elections have real consequences for our institutions, our values, and our work. After two years of sustained attacks from Washington, now is the time to fightback! We can help shift the balance of power in Congress and strengthen our allies in the state legislature—but only if we take action.
Below are Labor Walks taking place this Saturday, September 19th in the following four regions: Capital District, Long Island, Mid-Hudson/Westchester and Rochester.
Please sign up for one of these Labor Walks. A strong UUP presence at these events will make a meaningful difference, so be sure to wear your red UUP T-shirt. If you need a shirt, email Teresa Swartz at tswartz@uupmail.org with the quantity and sizes you need, and we will send them to you.
Also, be sure to take pictures of UUP members at these events. Send photos to Mike Lisi (mlisi@uupmail.org)and Amy Sheldon(asheldon@uupmail.org) for use in UUP publications, the UUP website, and on social media. Please include the name of the event and any details about the event, when possible.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19th LABOR WALKS
CAPITAL DISTRICT
CDALF Labor Walk for Blake Gendebien & Carrie Woerner
Time: 11am – 1 pm Location: Glens Falls, NY Register HERE
We are looking forward to another great academic year.
As a friendly reminder, we provide lunch at most (if not all) of our events! RSVPing at the Google Form links below helps us get an accurate count for lunch orders, so please fill them out if you intend to join us.
September
Chapter Meeting
September 9 || 12:00-1:00 pm Morris Conference Center, Le Café
By Shirley A. Clark, Oneonta UUP Chapter President
The Spring 2026 Delegate Assembly saw a powerful turnout from the Oneonta UUP Chapter, demonstrating our chapter’s ongoing commitment to statewide union governance and member advocacy. Representing Oneonta were: President Shirley Clark, Vice President for Professionals Jessie Simpauco, Secretary William Simons, Acting Treasurer Michael McAvoy, Officer for Retirees Jerianne Jerminario, and Delegates Ed Wesnofske, Political Outreach Coordinator Ethan Fox, Achim Koeddermann, Matthew Unangst, Christine Edwards, Anthony Nichols, and Penina Kamina.
A Resolution Honoring the service of Richard F. Tyler, past Treasurer, was read by the Chapter President, Shirley Clark during the Spring DA. Held in Albany from April 23–25, the Assembly brought together UUP members from across the state to discuss priorities, vote on leadership, and strengthen our collective voice. While statewide leadership elections went uncontested, the Executive Board elections saw meaningful democratic engagement. Matt Smith of ESF unseated Susan Orr of Brockport for an academic seat, and Brendan McGovern secured a professional seat that had been vacated. These elections reflect the healthy, participatory nature of our union and the value we place on member-driven leadership.
This rally joins a coordinated national day of action, led by the May Day Strong coalition, bringing together workers, immigrants, students, and families in a growing list of thousands of rallies, marches, walkouts, town halls, and teach-ins.
Families across the country are facing rising costs of housing, healthcare, groceries, and child care while billionaires and corporations attack our neighbors, shred government budgets to fill their pockets, and reshape the rules to protect their power.
Tax the rich: Calling for a shift in fiscal priority so that families and public services come before the accumulation of corporate fortunes.
Fund Education, Not War and Deportation: A rejection of the diversion of public funds toward militarization and deportation efforts.
Freedom to Teach, Research, and Learn For All: A firm defense of academic freedom and free elections in a political climate increasingly hostile to intellectual autonomy.
Together, we will take action alongside workers, parents, students, and community members who are uniting to demand better, safer, and stronger communities — places that put the needs of working families first. We’re standing up for thriving neighborhood public schools, affordable housing, and access to high-quality healthcare, prioritizing people over the profits of billionaires and their corporations.
This May Day, we will reshape how our nation responds to the needs of working families by centering their lived experiences. We are building momentum toward a future that protects the rights, dignity, and well-being of everyone who works for a living.
A commitment to nonviolent action is a core principle behind all May Day events. All hosts and participants are expected to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who may disagree.
PLEASE NOTE: VISITOR PARKING PASS RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN WAIVED FOR THIS EVENT FROM 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM!YOU DO NOT NEED A VISITORS’ PASS TO PARK ON CAMPUS BETWEEN THIS TIME FRAME! Parking in pre-allocated visitor spaces is preferred but not required.
The campus has accessible parking, entry, and ramps. We will also have some tables and chairs for attendees. Please see the Accessible Campus Routes Map, and contact the Office of Facilities at 607-436-3224 or at facilities@oneonta.edu for more detailed information.
We have signs and posters available to pick up at our Chapter Office in IRC 105, and will have more to distribute to rally participants the day of the event!
Are you a student or community member who wants to connect with public higher education workers to learn about our concerns and priorities?Sign up to be a UUP Oneonta Rapid Responder and you’ll receive late-breaking opportunities to support the local fights that our members care about! We’ll alert you to calls for political advocacy, labor solidarity actions, ways to fight for a strong UUP contract and much more.
April 9 Professionals Luncheon Noon – 1:00 pm || Morris Hall – Le Cafe UUP Statewide Vice President for Professionals Carolyn Kube to give update on Professional Survey
May 17 UUP Oneonta Chapter Picnic 11:00 am – 4:00 pm || College Camp BBQ Chicken, Corn, Baked Potato, Vegetable Lasagna, and more! A family-friendly event – bring up to 3 guests.
On March 28, communities across the nation will unite for No Kings Day, a day of action dedicated to defending the freedoms that uphold our democracy. This is a peaceful, people-powered movement calling for a future where every voice is heard, every idea can be expressed, and every individual can live and work with dignity and freedom. Together, we can ensure that our academic institutions and communities remain places of open inquiry, debate, and freedom of thought.
This day is about standing firm for the values that unite us. In a time when diverse ideas and perspectives are increasingly under attack, we stand firm in our belief that the freedom to speak, teach, research and learn without fear of retribution is essential to the integrity of our democracy and our institutions of higher learning.
We invite you to participate by attending an event or amplifying the message online. If you are planning on joining an event – please register with UUP HERE and we will register you with the No Kings location of your choosing. If you have already registered directly with the official No Kings Day event, please also register through this UUP registration link. Registering with UUP will ensure that we can coordinate, share signs, and support one another at these actions.
If you are speaking at an event and would like talking points, please reach out to UUP Communications Director, Mike Lisi (mlisi@uupmail.org).
Key Tools and Resources:
Visit HEREto learn more and sign up. Visit the No Kings website for a full list of locations.
We have the power and are claiming it together. No Thrones. No Crowns. No Kings.
What began in 2025 as a single day of defiance has become a sustained national resistance to tyranny, spreading from small towns to city centers and across every community determined to defend democracy. Our peaceful movement is bigger than ever.
When our families are under attack and costs are pushing people to the brink, silence is not an option. We will defend ourselves and our communities against this administration’s unjust and cruel acts of violence.
On March 28th, rise up, take to the streets, and say it loud: no thrones, no crowns, no kings. We’re not watching history happen—we’re making it. Join us.
A core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, should not be brought to events.
I’m sure that you are as concerned as I am regarding the events in Minneapolis and elsewhere over the past several weeks. We are certainly in an era which presents deep dangers to our democracy. Government agents have been given free reign to assault and detain people in our country without cause or justification. Most notably, we have witnessed the murder of an innocent woman by ICE agents who will not be held accountable for their actions.
UUP stands for democracy and the rule of law. With these principles under assault, we have joined with other unions in condemning the actions of the Trump Regime and specifically ICE. As part of our resistance, we are sharing with you important information concerning ways that those of you who would like to can join in actions of peaceful resistance.
This Friday, January 23, please join me in showing solidarity with the Minneapolis AFL-CIO’s call for a general strike in Minnesota to oppose intensified ICE raids and to stand with immigrant workers and families everywhere.
On Friday, we encourage you to wear blue as a symbolic step of solidarity and share photos and videos on social media. We also encourage you to attend a local ICE OUT rally or march — details for Albany and NYC actions are below, and you can find other events here.
If you plan to attend a rally outside of Albany or NYC, please share event info with Mary Becker at, mbecker@uupmail.org so we can help connect, coordinate, and amplify efforts. Additionally, as events unfold, as actions are scheduled, please share them with Mary Becker so that we can then provide all of us with the opportunity to take part.
These are deeply troubling times but we can create hope by our common resistance to the oppression that has been let loose in our nation.
In solidarity,
Frederick E. Kowal, Ph.D. President United University Professions
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!
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!
