Ziya Arnavut of Fredonia makes a point during a workshop on chapter development

UUP is looking for a few good members aspiring to become union leaders in the future. Close to 50 UUPers answered the call, coming to the union’s Fall Leadership Workshops Oct. 26-27 in Saratoga Springs.

Statewide Vice President for Academics Frederick Floss welcomed the leadership trainees, explaining the workshop presented an opportunity for them to meet union members from other chapters, as well as learning the qualities of leadership.

A Tradition of Leadership

Floss pointed to the successful passage of the Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) pension equity bill as “a huge victory” made possible by UUP’s strong leadership. Gov. Eliot Spitzer signed the bill into law during the summer, culminating a multiyear fight to reach pension equity.

Reporting that the ORP legislation was the only pension bill that passed this year, Floss stressed persistence by UUPers led to this victory.

“What did it was having our members come back to Albany year after year. They noticed how long we fought this battle and that we were serious,” he said.

Floss used that scenario to drive home to the trainees the significant role they’ll play in the years to come.

“As new leaders, you’re going to take up the torch for the next challenge,” he said.

For most of those in the group, the workshops represented their first move in the direction toward union leadership. Kyla Relaford of Plattsburgh said she was looking to gain a better understanding of what the union is here for.

“I feel like I’m representing young professional faculty who don’t know what their rights are or the support they have,” she said.

“I wanted to learn how to run meetings,” explained Sonya Forrester of Purchase. “You can never know too much.”

Five Workshops Offered

Forrester attended the “Effective Meetings: Effective Results” workshop, focusing in on how to plan for effective meetings.

Four other workshops provided the next leaders with other skills.

“Collective Bargaining and the Taylor Law’’ provided an overview of the law that is the legal foundation for collective bargaining in New York state. “Forums for Problem Solving” offered approaches to help members facing problems. “UUP: Chapter Development” outlined the structure of UUP and the role of its chapters. “Grievance I” presented a basic introduction to UUP’s contractual grievance procedures.

Once the workshops concluded, the trainees got together to evaluate what they had learned. And they all agreed on the value of their collective experience.

Ray Gleason of Alfred summed it up best.

“The workshop finally personalized the union for me,” he said.

UUP Vice President for Professionals John Marino echoed the benefits derived from the workshop, saying, “Educated members are our best defense.”

—Donald Feldstein