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UUP President Phillip Smith didn’t mince words in describing the daunting challenge facing UUP during his address to the union’s Fall Delegate Assembly.
“We’re in the fight of our life,” Smith emphasized. “We’ve been cut to the bone and I think we’re going to be cut into the bone,” referring to the fate of SUNY if $270 million worth of budget cuts are not reversed.
Smith delivered his sobering assessment during his State of the Union address at UUP’s 2008 Fall Delegate Assembly in Albany. The two-day policymaking assembly covered a wide variety of issues, including academic and professional concerns, but the union’s leader placed the dwindling financial future of SUNY on the front burner.
Smith chastised SUNY’s administration for its failure to respond to the latest budget cut of $96 million, saying they are not willing to deal with their situation and comparing their behavior to “Nero fiddling while Rome is burning.” He stressed the critical importance of getting more than members involved to wage the battle to restore SUNY’s funding and prevent layoffs. Smith asked unionists to form coalitions with alumni, students and parents, local business owners and local public officials.
“I ask all of you to assemble on your campuses,” Smith told the delegates.
“We need boots, sneakers and shoes on the ground. Speak to your troops.”
NYSUT Executive Vice President Alan Lubin addressed the delegates during the plenary session. He pledged the support of UUP’s statewide affiliate, drawing applause when he said, “We’re not going to quit until this crisis is over.”
Earlier at the chapter presidents and vice presidents meeting, Smith said the union has a well-organized political action plan to have members meet with state lawmakers in their home district offices.
“We want you to engage your students, your parents and your local business owners and remind them that their very livelihoods and futures depend on the economic growth of SUNY, he said.” Smith underscored the importance of this mission, saying “SUNY is like a ship on fire, heading for the shoals.”
Protecting members
Leading the Academic Delegates Meeting, Vice President for Academics Frederick Floss warned that UUP must be proactive for what he predicts will happen — that SUNY will not renew faculty in order to save money in response to the state’s budget cuts.
“We need to help junior faculty be the best prepared they can be so the administration can’t give the excuse, ‘You’re not good enough,’ to renew you,” Floss said.
Floss also asked the delegates for their input on what should be included in the upcoming revision of the UUP guide for academics.
Meanwhile, professional delegates participated in two panel discussions during their 90-minute meeting, focusing on permanent appointment, compensatory time and overtime.
“We thought all of these issues deserved an in-depth discussion,” said Vice President for Professionals John Marino.
Harvey Axlerod of Buffalo Center moderated the panel on permanent appointment; Gina Doty of Plattsburgh, Dave Hartle of Canton and Ray Gleason of Alfred served as panelists. Ed Drummond of Stony Brook HSC moderated the comp time and overtime panel, which featured Carolyn Kube of Stony Brook HSC, John Cote of Potsdam, Norman Payne of Oneonta and Eric Wildrick of Purchase.
The delegates engaged in spirited conversation on both topics, as well as bringing up other issues such as the SUNY budget cuts and asking questions about how to deal with managers who may ask them to perform work duties not included in their performance programs.
SUNY Vice Provost for Diversity and Educational Equity Pedro Cabán appeared as guest speaker at the Committee on Latino Affairs meeting to give what committee chair José Feliciano of Stony Brook described as “the state of the state of diversity.”
While Cabán said SUNY’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) and Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC) counted a number of accomplishments in the last year, his aspirations for this year are more modest. He explained both EOP and EOC got hit with a 3.7 percent budget reduction.
While the cuts have been absorbed by paring down administrative expenses, Cabán warned that any additional cuts “would seriously impact support for students.”
The DA acted on three UUP constitutional amendments, as well as more than a dozen resolutions (see related story, page 9).
UUP honored excellence by handing out several awards to outstanding academics, professionals and retirees. Former UUP President William Scheuerman received the Nina Mitchell Award. Jacqualine Berger of Empire State and Lori Nash of Oswego were honored with the Fayez Samuel Award for Courageous Service by Part-time Faculty. Gertrude Butera of Alfred was given the Eugene P. Link Award. Jo Schaffer of Cortland received the Outstanding Active Retiree Award.
UUP also celebrated its 35th anniversary with a large and attractive display of historical photos, placards, pins and other union memorabilia. The 20th anniversary of UUP’s College Scholarship (formerly known as the Link scholarship) featured its own display to mark the occasion.
— Donald Feldstein