Chapter presidents and vice presidents came together prior to the start of the Spring DA to talk about the issues that affect them most. Atop the list: how to get the most from campus labor/management meetings and how much money in the state budget is earmarked for their campuses.

The survey said …

Cortland Chapter President Lawrence Ashley was asked to address his colleagues on results of an informal survey he conducted regarding effective chapter labor/management meetings. He received responses from 33 presidents and vice presidents from 22 chapters.

Ashley grouped the responses into five categories: Pre-table suggestions; Going to the table; At the table; Post table; and General.

Pre-table suggestions included: know the facts and the contract; be prepared to compromise; gain administrators’ trust; and work with labor relations specialists.

Recommendations for going to the table include limiting the number of topics to four or fewer, preparing counter-proposals and crafting questions in advance.

Once at the table, chapter leaders recommend being professional, giving thanks where warranted, and being tough, patient, persistent, succinct, firm, understanding and vigilant.

“And leap tall buildings in a single bound,” Ashley quipped. “It’s tough to be all of these things, I know, but any one of them could make the difference.”

Ashley said respondents felt strongly about scheduling follow-up discussions, as well as keeping the chapter membership informed of progress on key issues.

Other recommendations: Establish a meeting schedule for the year; delegate responsibility to other chapter officers; open the process to members; and watch for issues that divide the membership.

“This report has been a big help to me personally because I still have a lot to learn,” said Kathleen Southerton, the newly elected chapter president at Stony Brook HSC. “I know that I must have the facts and do my homework on both sides of the issue, and to tap into the resources that UUP offers.”

Southerton said she was pleased but not surprised that several chapter presidents approached her to offer their assistance.

“They’re willing and able to help me because they’ve been doing this for a long time,” she added. “I will have no problem contacting other chapter presidents from similar campuses and ask questions. I would do anything if I felt it would better our situation at Stony Brook HSC.”

Student member program

NYSUT Vice President Robin Rapaport told the chapter leaders that NYSUT is establishing a “new member initiative” to bring students in college education programs into the labor movement. He said the “professional organization for future teachers” is a perfect way to show future educators how the union can have a significant role in their professional careers.

“It’s a no-brainer,” Rapaport said. “We have, with your help, the opportunity to enroll student members in teacher-prep schools and to graduate folks with a predisposition for union membership.”

UUP members interested in helping NYSUT get the project off the ground should contact Thomas Anapolis at NYSUT headquarters at (518) 213-6000.

Budget update

President Scheuerman said state support for SUNY is up this year, but the way the numbers were presented in SUNY’s 2007-08 Financial Plan understated the actual gains.

In a report to chapter leaders, UUP Director of Legislation Thomas Kriger said UUP is working with SUNY and the Legislature to clear up this issue.

The bottom line: “There’s more money for campuses than what shows on paper,” Scheuerman said. “Don’t let campus managers be fooled by the initial numbers. There is money available to do campus projects.”

— Karen L. Mattison