Blake Gendebien and Cait Conley, two of our endorsed candidates for Congress, are holding upcoming “Meet the Candidates” zoom sessions. They will discuss the cost of living, protecting good union jobs, and issues affecting working families this Election Day.
I will be joining the zoom session, and I hope you will too.
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
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.
Despite the date shifting to March 17 due to winter storm Hernando, the Oneonta UUP Chapter still turned out to be a strong group of members committed to advocating for investment in SUNY. A dedicated team of SUNY Oneonta faculty and professionals traveled to Albany for Advocacy Day, joining colleagues from across the state to push for meaningful funding for public higher education. Representing SUNY Oneonta were Ethan Fox, Penina Kamina, Anthony Nichols, Jessie Simpauco, Shirley Clark, and Marvin Rodriguez, each lending their voice to a unified call for a stronger, more equitable SUNY. Our team had the opportunity to speak directly with Assemblyman Brian Miller and advocate for our SUNY budget priorities. Ethan Fox stepped forward to make a video with a strong message to Governor Hochul: Tax the Rich! Meanwhile, Anthony and Marvin went on to distribute literature containing our requests to Legislatures inside the Capitol Building. Our district Senator, Peter Oberacker, unfortunately was not present at this meeting, so we followed up with an e-mail request outlining the UUPs Budget priorities for SUNY.
UUP Oneonta Advocacy Day Representatives: Penina Kamina, Ethan Fox, Jessie Simpauco, Shirley Clark, Anthony Nichols, and Marvin Rodriguez.UUP Oneonta President Shirley Clark with NYS Assemblyman Brian Miller at Advocacy Day.UUP Statewide President Fred Kowal gives an inspirational speech.UUP Oneonta Advocacy Day Representatives: Ethan Fox, Jessie Simpauco, Anthony Nichols, and Marvin Rodriguez enjoying the presentation.UUP Oneonta Chapter President Shirley Clark and Academic Delegate Penina Kamina.
Key Budget Priorities Presented by the Delegation
Campus Operating Aid
$141.8 million total, including:
$100 million in system‑wide operating support
$41.8 million in targeted aid to close structural deficits at the most fiscally stressed SUNY Campuses ESF, Buffalo State, Fredonia, and Potsdam. This funding is essential to stabilizing campuses, protecting academic programs, and preventing further cuts.
Full‑Time Faculty & Professionals
$53 million to expand and retain full‑time faculty and professional staff across all 29 state‑operated campuses This investment would help reverse years of staffing erosion and ensure students receive the high‑quality education they deserve.
SUNY Teaching Hospitals
Full coverage of employee fringe benefits and debt service costs for Downstate, Upstate, and Stony Brook for $75 million.
Requesting $82 million for Debt Service Costs.
Approve Executive Budget item maintaining Capital Funding Reappropriations. $750 million for Downstate and $450 million for Upstate Medical Centers.
Protection from federal Medicaid cuts. These measures would safeguard the hospitals’ ability to provide care, train medical professionals, and serve vulnerable communities.
Educational Opportunity Programs
$20 million increase for EOP
$5 million for Pre‑Medical EOP
Enactment of MHEOP (S.2046/A.3607) with $5 million in funding
These programs remain vital pathways for first‑generation and economically disadvantaged students.
NY Opportunity Promise Scholarship
Expansion to all SUNY campuses offering associate degrees in high‑demand fields Currently, the scholarship is limited to community colleges, leaving many SUNY students without access to this opportunity.
SUNY Research Fund
Creation of a state‑sponsored fund to offset frozen federal NIH/NSF grants This would protect faculty research independence and ensure SUNY remains competitive in securing and sustaining research talent.
A Unified Message for a Stronger SUNY
The SUNY Oneonta delegation’s presence in Albany underscored a simple truth: New York’s public universities are indispensable, but they cannot thrive without meaningful state partnership. Our commitment and strong turnout for Oneonta UUP on Advocacy Day reflects a shared assurance to strengthening SUNY; not just for today’s students, but for generations to come.
For a downloadable, printable version of this article please click here or see below:
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.
Photos contributed by Ethan Fox, Rob Compton, and Nancy Simons
Of the people, by the people, for the people!
These are not ordinary times. In conjunction with the leaders of other unions, State UUP President Fred Kowal underlines the seriousness of the situation in America 2026:
“Most disturbing has been the use of deadly force by federal law enforcement, chiefly by ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, including the recent murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. Victims include those killed while in custody at internment camps as well as those peacefully protesting or simply witnessing ICE agents conducting their ‘operations.’ The power of the state to kill is not one that can or should ever be used indiscriminately. Yet, that is what is happening in our country right now.”
The terms and conditions of UUP employees do not exist within the vacuum of an imagined ivory tower. SUNY Upstate Medical University employee and UUP member Alcibiades Lazaro Ramierez González was seized and spent time in ICE detainment. ICE is present in Otsego County, and the incumbent local sheriff has committed to collaboration with ICE. At SUNY Oneonta, there are employees and students vulnerable to ICE seizure. In addition, diversity curriculum and federal funding are under threat from policies of the current presidential administration, as other institutions can attest. To those who counsel that activism on campus and community will only energize the opposition, recall the words of Nazi critic Martin Niemöller:
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
Nearly 30 years as a union officer, 16 of them as chapter president, have shown me that silence is a far greater danger than activism.
The words of Kowal and other union leaders are unequivocal: “Unions have always been at the forefront of the struggle against authoritarian regimes. It is time for organized labor to take the necessary steps toward escalating widespread resistance against this one… academic unions have an obligation to our members, our campus workplaces, the students we teach and the communities where we live and work to speak out, to organize and to take a stand.”
“Indivisible is a nationwide movement of millions of people working to stop the rise of authoritarianism in the United States and to demand a real democracy. We believe that politics is too important to leave up to the politicians – it requires all of us to get on the field.”
Locally, Virginia Kennedy, a UUP member who donned the union shirt during the local No Kings rally, is the group leader of Cooperstown/Oneonta Indivisible.
Cooperstown/Oneonta Indivisible leader Virginia Kennedy, left, with Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado.
Those of us, including UUP Oneonta Political Action Leader Ethan Fox, our late Treasurer Rich Tyler and his wife/partner and UUP leader of multiple portfolios Loraine DEI Officer Penina Kamina, Vice President for Professionals Jesse Simpauco, Professional Delegate Anthony Nichols, President Shirley Clark, Acting Vice President for Academics Rob Compton,Secretary Bill Simons, Health/Safety Officer Ron Bishop, former Grievance Officer Paul Conway, former Academic Delegate Gina Keel, Todd Evan, Matt Murphy, Chilton Reyolds and his TLTC team, Matt and Michelle Hendley, Miguel Leon, and Joe Ingrassia, can attest to the impact of Indivisible events. Virginia’s exceptional motivational leadership are on display at organizational meetings, sessions with government officials and candidates, rallies, documentary filming, and food drives.
The No Kings Coalition has launched rolling rapid-response trainings leading up to the next nationwide mobilization on March 28th. As a partner, we’re sharing opportunities to plug in immediately. We had a tremendous turnout for the last No Kings Action all across New York. We’re aiming for even more people engaged in the battle to save our democracy.
As we build toward the March 28th mass mobilization, now is the moment to train, organize, and strengthen our networks. Please share this opportunity widely and encourage others to get involved. Engage your colleagues, family, friends, and neighbors on how to be active in this fight.
We will share more information on how to connect with the March 28th actions through UUP soon. If you have additional actions or coalition resources to share, send them to Mary Becker, UUP Organizing & Outreach Administrative Assistant (mbecker@uupmail.org), and we will help amplify them.
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
If you have ever considered raising your voice to advocate for our work, our campuses, our hospitals, and our students, now is the time. Registration is open for UUP’s Advocacy Day in February, and we need as many members to attend as possible. Strong attendance at our Advocacy Days — which we certainly had last session — along with member actions throughout the legislative session demonstrates our union power, which is critically important this year. Join Outreach Committee Co-Chairs Bekkie Bryan and Pamela Malone for Learn About Advocacy, a workshop for all members to learn why advocacy is important, what actions we take, and how to prepare. If you are new to advocacy or are a seasoned advocate, come learn how together we can make our union as strong as we can be.
This workshop is meant to answer any questions you have about UUP’s advocacy efforts—attendance at this workshop is not a requirement to register for Advocacy Day. But, it sure would make the experience more positive and impactful!
