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First, let me wish you all the very best New Year and I hope you enjoyed a wonderful holiday season. It is this time of year that we come together as families and communities to help one another. The New Year very often also brings with it many changes.
For me, the New Year has brought new responsibilities. On Nov. 30, I accepted the Executive Board’s appointment as acting president of UUP. I am honored and humbled by the faith which the Executive Board has put in me with this appointment. After having Bill Scheuerman as president for the last 14 years, I realize it may take a little while to get used to seeing someone else taking the lead on behalf of all of you.
Let me review the next steps in the process for this transition, to give you a better understanding of what will be happening at UUP.
A special election for UUP president will occur during the Winter Delegate Assembly in February, to fill the unexpired term that ends May 31, 2009. The election procedures will be the same as those used during regular elections for officers during a Spring Delegate Assembly. Additional elections may be necessary to fill other open positions depending on the outcome of the election for president.
Elections for both statewide vice presidents, the treasurer and a number of Executive Board seats will be held during the Spring Delegate Assembly.
As the election process works itself out, a number of other issues important to our members and SUNY are in play.
Gov. Spitzer’s Commission on Higher Education has delivered its preliminary report. UUP issued a strong response to the governor and the commission, pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of their recommendations. The preliminary report is important because it will influence the governor’s Executive Budget proposal. UUP responded to the recommendations immediately to make sure the governor knows our concerns before he finalizes his Executive Budget proposal.
Another major priority for our members is our contract negotiations. The pace of our talks picked up in December, and as The Voice went to press, our Negotiations Team reached a tentative four-year contract agreement with the state that includes a competitive salary package and other significant gains (see related story, page 13). However, our work doesn’t stop. The Team and I will visit every chapter in the state to ensure all UUP members have an opportunity to discuss the tentative agreement and to answer any questions you may have. When a new contract is ratified by UUP members, we will work to both implement and enforce the agreement.
Last, but certainly not least, we are gearing up for our annual legislative advocacy activities. The Executive Board approved UUP’s 2008 Legislative Agenda, details of which are presented later in the magazine.
This year, the union’s legislative and budget priorities are ambitious. They call for the protection of our SUNY hospitals from privatization; a substantial increase in the ranks of our full-time academic and professional faculty; and protections for our part-time faculty.
The New Year brings both many challenges and opportunities. Working in solidarity, we will achieve our goals for members. I hope 2008 is a year of accomplishment for all of us.
Again, best wishes.