UUPers urged to help Iraqi workers by signing USLAW petition— Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein died in 2006, but his restrictive 1987 law barring the formation of unions and collective bargaining is still being enforced.

And America has remained silent on the issue for too long, according to U.S. Labor Against the War (USLAW), a coalition of 184 unions working to mobilize support to end war and protect workers’ rights around the world.

UUP members can help Iraqi workers who risk beatings, torture and even death for organizing unions by signing an online petition on the USLAW Web site, http://uslaboragainstwar.org/IraqLaborRightsCampaign. The petition asks U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to speak out for labor rights in Iraq and to push the Iraqi government to respect and protect the rights of workers and unions.

Signing the petition is one way to advance a Spring Delegate Assembly resolution calling on UUPers to learn more about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

— Michael Lisi

New Jersey certifies Rutgers postdoctoral union—The New Jersey Public Employment Relations Commission has certified the vote of nearly 350 postdoctoral associates and fellows to be represented by Rutgers Council of ABA Chapters/AFT, the union that represents more than 5,000 faculty and graduate employees at Rutgers University. Postdoctoral associates and fellows are grant-based, nontenure-track research faculty who work under the direction of a principal investigator, usually a university professor. Generally, their salaries are low, job security is nonexistent and work rules are arbitrary. “Having a union contract will help us set working conditions that are fair and allow us to better focus on our work,” said Alan Wan, a postdoctoral associate in the chemistry department.

Western Michigan adjuncts, instructors vote for union—Instructors and adjuncts at Western Michigan University cast an overwhelming vote for union representation by the Professional Instructors Organization (PIO), which is affiliated with AFT Michigan. The vote, counted June 29 by the Michigan Employment Relations Commission, was 207 to 29 for a unit of 430. Janet Heller, a part-time instructor in the gender and women’s studies program, was among a core group of 15 colleagues who began organizing in 2007, when all segments of the community except the instructors got wage increases. “We hadn’t even gotten a cost-of-living raise for 12 or 15 years,” she said. WMU pays the adjuncts $700 per credit hour, and offers no benefits or adequate office space. Achieving more job security and seeing part-time jobs converted to full time are two other priorities for the new union, Heller said.

AFT endorses Trumka   for AFL-CIO president—By unanimous vote, the AFT Executive Council July 11 endorsed Richard Trumka for president of the AFL-CIO.

Officer elections will be held during the AFL-CIO’s September convention. The AFT is the second largest union in the AFL-CIO. AFT President Randi Weingarten praised the slate of officers, which includes Trumka, Elizabeth Shuler for secretary-treasurer and Arlene Holt Baker for executive vice president. “This is a team that understands the importance of a united, re-energized labor movement. We look forward to having them lead our movement,” Weingarten said. Trumka, speaking to the AFT Executive Council by phone from Arkansas, pledged to keep working people’s issues at the forefront of the national agenda. “We need to become the unquestioned voice of people who work hard and play by the rules,” Trumka said.

Weingarten steps down as UFT president—Randi Weingarten, who was elected AFT president one year ago, announced June 24 that she will devote herself full time to that role and is stepping down from her position as president of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) in New York City, effective July 31. Weingarten, elected UFT president in 1998, had held both union positions since  July 2008.

Former UUP statewide VP for academics dies—Former statewide vice president for academics Morris Budin of SUNY Binghamton died May 26 following a long illness. He was 88. A professor emeritus of geography, Budin served as a UUP vice president from 1976-78 and on the statewide Executive Board from 1984-90. “For those of us who were fortunate to know Morris, we recognize that he ‘stood tall’ as a founding member of UUP, the union he loved so much and to which he made monumental contributions,” said UUP President Phillip Smith. “Morris’ work for UUP is almost encyclopedic: Founder, negotiator, vice president, board member, staunch chapter advocate, and loyal friend to many. His passing marks a clear loss for UUP. He will be sorely missed.”

— Karen L. Mattison

UUP earns AAUP Outreach Award—UUP has won national honors for its outstanding political action outreach efforts. The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) presented UUP with its Al Sumburg Award during its annual meeting, June 11-14 in Washington, D.C. The award is given to a person or organization whose advocacy efforts have been particularly effective in creating positive change to further higher education interests on a national and/or state level. UUP President Phillip Smith accepted the award on behalf of the union. He said the ABA award recognizes the hard work and success of UUP’s advocacy campaigns in 2008-09, which focused on protecting union jobs, obtaining and retaining state aid for the University and New York’s teaching hospitals, and keeping SUNY whole. “We couldn’t be more proud of this important honor,” said Smith, shown above with UUP Secretary Eileen Landy, who heads up the union’s Legislation Department. “This was truly a team effort.”