Stacey Johnson of SUNY Buffalo shares a thought on meetings with campus administrators.

UUP’s seasoned chapter presidents and vice presidents know that the best way to serve their members is to educate themselves on matters that affect the work lives of their colleagues and the University.

So when they gathered at the 2008 Winter DA, they were prepared to exchange successful strategies and discuss issues of common concern.

Following an update on negotiations by then UUP Acting President and Chief Negotiator Frederick Floss (see related story, page 13), chapter leaders discussed the state budget and the union’s political action plan.

Floss showed UUP’s 30-second TV spot that aired earlier this year as a way to convince the governor to fully fund the state university, including money to hire more full-time faculty. He used the ad to call for additional volunteer advocacy in Albany and district offices.

UUP Outreach Committee Co-chair Glenn McNitt urged the leaders to help turn out the numbers, not only at the union’s Legislative Luncheon but also at regional advocacy days and throughout the legislative session.

“We must increase participation by our members,” McNitt said.

Among the other topics discussed:

Labor/management meetings — Stony Brook HSC Chapter President Kathleen Southerton questioned her colleagues about how their labor/management meetings are conducted.

Several presidents said they take minutes — often referred to as “notes” or “summaries” — of the meeting and publish them in chapter newsletters.

Potsdam Chapter President Laura Rhoads said she shares meeting notes with members, and is grateful when she receives feedback.

“What members have to say helps me know what to bring to the table during the next labor/management meeting,” she said.

As for obstacles: Brockport Chapter President Gary Owens summed it up best when he said, “The backbone of these meetings is the UUP contract. Everything is spelled out right there.”

Free Exchange on Campus — Craig Smith of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Higher Education Division discussed an AFT-supported program,

Free Exchange on Campus, which promotes the free exchange of ideas on campus. The effort is designed to stave off attacks on academic freedom from radical conservatives like David Horowitz, author of the so-called “Academic Bill of Rights” (ABoR) that looks to bring “intellectual diversity” to the university at the expense of academic freedom and shared governance.

Though the AFT and Free Exchange on Campus have beaten back ABoR legislation in more than 28 states since 2004, Smith said the torch has been passed to other conservative extremists, who are building legislative support for their Higher Education Sunshine Act. The legislation would require that higher education institutions report back to state legislatures on the intellectual diversity on campuses.

“This is worse than the Academic Bill of Rights,” Smith said, adding that 10 states have it on their legislative agendas. Though bills in Washington State and Indiana are effectively dead on arrival, Smith warns that the issue is not going away any time soon.

For more details, go to www.freeexchangeoncampus.org or to www.aft.org.

Discretionary salary increases (DSI) — This is often a hot topic for

chapter leaders, primarily because campus administrations vary widely on how the money is distributed.

DSI is 1 percent of the total salary pool for the UUP bargaining unit.

Delta Dental — “I am proud to announce that we are going back to Delta Dental,” Floss said to a round of applause. “This will mean that more of our members will be able to get network coverage for dental services.”

Member Benefits Manager Doreen Bango fielded dozens of questions and promised that more details would follow in the next issue of The Voice (see related story, page 18).

— Karen L. Mattison