A group of about 70 professional UUP members gathered to attend a conference on Long Island. The goal of the conference, sponsored by UUP, was to give members a chance to get more involved in their union and to point out the many “tools for success” provided by the union that they have at their disposal.

The June 5 conference was moderated by Vice President for Professionals John Marino. It consisted of a series of presentations, as well as an hour-long forum conducted by Marino that addressed the issues, questions and concerns voiced by participants. Within the wide range of topics covered at the conference were workload, performance programs and evaluations, furloughs, givebacks, salary increases and compensatory time.

“Members have been asking for a while to do regional meetings for participation from those who don’t want to travel all the way to Albany,” said Marino.

William Capowski, a NYSUT labor relations specialist assigned to UUP, delivered a presentation that covered such topics as appeals committees and their involvement in salary increases, evaluations, and permanent appointment. Participants were encouraged to raise questions and voice concerns specific to the conference and the union.

This was one of a handful of regional conferences for professionals conducted by UUP, and plans are already in progress to organize and conduct regional meetings in Buffalo and Potsdam.

“It’s up to the chapters where the regional meetings will be held,” Marino said. “If one chapter has a large membership and its professionals don’t want to travel far for a conference, we can plan those regional meetings closer to them,” Marino said.

Marino said the union is following up on concerns raised by participants to the Long Island regional meeting.

“The first issue the union is tackling is the lack of understanding of members’ rights under the contract,” he said. “The conferences are held to help clarify contract provisions and to give UUP professionals a clear understanding of what is expected of them and what they should expect from their SUNY supervisors.”

— Margret Beditz