Contract negotiations between UUP and New York state continue. During a two-day negotiating session in early August, the state presented a broad outline of its health insurance proposal. The UUP Team rejected it as entirely unacceptable.

The next step in the negotiations process had the UUP Negotiations Team dividing into work groups focusing on the following: salary; family leave; tuition benefits for immediate family; professional issues; part-time issues; and health care benefits.

“UUP work groups presented the topics to the state’s negotiators in the company of our full team,” UUP Chief Negotiator and Vice President for Academics Frederick Floss said. “The state named members to its own work groups on the same topics. The work groups from both sides meet together but away from the formal bargaining table.”

The goal is to help move the process along through consideration of the issues.

“It allows the parties to have a freer exploration of the topics because their comments are not part of the official collective bargaining record,” explained Negotiations Vice Chair Michael Smiles of Farmingdale. “This format allows issues to be tackled more comprehensively and the numerous components to move expeditiously,” he said.

Another advantage: The work groups focus on concepts and issues and problems rather than on specific contract language.

The joint work group meetings are not held simultaneously, since the chief negotiators from both sides attend every session. UUP’s work group members will report to the entire Negotiations Team regarding the outcome of their discussions. The work groups are not authorized to reach agreements with the state.

As of July 19, negotiations reached the point where no new proposals can be introduced by either party.

As The Voice went to press, an additional 12 full days of negotiations sessions were scheduled through mid-December. UUP’s Negotiations Team meets the day prior to each negotiating session for further clarifications and updates.

“Our Team is a very dedicated group who meet all day and into the evening. They are giving it their all,” UUP President William Scheuerman said. “Our members should feel confident in their Negotiations Team, and in the fact that members’ concerns form the foundation of our whole effort in this process.”

Though the 2003-2007 agreement expired July 1, the benefits remain in full force until UUP and the state reach a new agreement, and the agreement is ratified by UUP’s membership.

The expired contract provides another round of discretionary salary increases (DSI) for UUPers. The process, if any, for distribution of DSI varies among campuses. However, campus presidents must distribute the money no later than Dec. 31. DSI increases are retroactive to July 1, 2007, or Sept. 1, 2007, in accordance with the employee’s terms of obligation.

— Donald Feldstein