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UNITED
UNIVERSITY PROFESSIONS: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND FORESTRY CHAPTER
ARTICLE I: NAME
The name of the Chapter shall be the United University
Professions (UUP): Environmental
Science and Forestry Chapter.
ARTICLE II: PURPOSE
The purpose of this Chapter shall be to improve the terms and
conditions of employment of those it represents; to promote mutual assistance
and cooperation among the members of this organization; to advance education in
a democracy and democracy in education; to promote the principal of unity and
collective bargaining in higher education; and to defend the civil,
professional, and human rights of those it represents.
ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Classes
of Membership
a. Regular Membership shall
be open to all full time and part time unclassified professional employees of
the State University College of Environmental Science and Forestry with the
exclusion of those positions deemed as being management/confidential.
b. Special Membership,
either Retired or Sustaining
i. Active retired membership
shall be open to any person who has retired from active service while a regular
member of United University Professions.
ii. Sustaining membership shall be open to any person who has been
retrenched, or to any person who has been involuntarily terminated and has
litigation grievance or other similar proceeding in progress, such membership to
terminate upon reinstatement in the negotiating unit or resolution of such
litigation or other proceedings, and to be limited to the period of litigation
or a three-year term, whichever is longer.
Section
2. Categories of Membership
Members
of each Chapter shall be designated as either of two categories,
"Academic" or "Professional."
"Academic" members shall be those members of the professional
staff with academic rank. "Professional"
members shall be those members with professional rank.
ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS
AND DUTIES
Section l.
Officers of the Chapter shall be members of UUP and shall consist of the
following:
a. President
b. Vice-President for Academics
c. Vice-President for Professionals
d. Secretary/Treasurer
e. Grievance
Chairperson
f. Affirmative Action Chairperson
g. Part-time Concerns’ Representative
h. Retiree Concerns’ Representative
i. Such other officers as shall be designated by the
United University Professions’ Constitution as amended subsequent to the Fall 1994 D. A.
Section 2.
Duties of Chapter officers shall be as follows:
a. President
1. The President shall be responsible for the promotion and
advancement of the Chapter.
2. Serve as Chairperson of the Executive Committee and shall
convene and preside at all Executive meetings of the Chapter and at all membership meetings.
3.
Appoint all Committee Chairpersons, Representatives for special concerns
(e.g. part-time and retired members) not otherwise named and shall be an ex-officio
member of all committees.
4. Enforce the Constitution and Bylaws and shall perform such
other duties as shall pertain to this office.
5. Officially represent the Chapter at all and any meetings
attended on a local, state, or national level.
6. Have as a primary duty the responsibility for maintaining
communications between the Chapter and Administration at the Chapter and State levels and also with other
chapters of UUP.
7. The term of office shall be for two years.
b. Vice-President for Academics and Vice-President for
Professionals:
1. The two Vice-Presidents shall serve as assistants to the
President and be responsible for any and all duties delegated
to them by the President and or the Executive Committee.
2. In the event of absence, resignation, or removal of the
President from office for any reason whatsoever, the Vice President of the alternate category as
the President shall automatically fill the position so vacated and shall
serve the remainder of that term of office and assume all duties and
responsibilities of that office.
3. The term of office shall be for 2 years.
c. Secretary/Treasurer shall:
2. Be bonded.
3. Send notices of meetings and proposed changes in the
Constitution and Bylaws of the Chapter to all members.
4. Prepare for the ensuing year an annual budget, to be
submitted to the Chapter for approval at the annual meeting.
5. Act as custodian of all funds deposited to the credit of the
Chapter disbursements over fifty dollars ($50.00) shall be made only on written order signed by the President.
6. Keep an exact record of all
receipts and expenditures, and shall submit a report of the same, with vouchers,
to the Executive Committee) at each meeting or upon its request.
7. Receive and collect all monies due the Chapter and deposit
them in a bank to the credit of the treasury, taking a receipt from the bank for all money
so deposited.
8. Assume responsibility for the conduct of Chapter elections as
the Chapter official.
9. Serve a two-year term of office.
d. Grievance Chairperson shall
2. Serve as an information source to assist members in grievance
matters. To this end seek guidance and information from UUP grievance specialists.
4. Treat grievance matters with confidentiality, releasing
information about particular cases only with the permission of the person or
persons pursuing the action.
5.
Serve a two-year term of office. Appointment will be by the President with
confirmation by the majority of the
Executive Committee.
e. Affirmative Action Chairperson shall:
1. Be responsible for assisting members in proper
procedures for the investigation and resolution of affirmative action cases.
2.
Serve as information
source to assist members in affirmative action matters. To this end seek
guidance
and information from UUP affirmative action specialists.
3.
Maintain files of affirmative action procedures in effect including case
studies of past actions so that members
may be assisted in resolution of problems in affirmative action matters.
4.
Treat affirmative action matters with confidentiality, releasing
information about particular cases only with
the permission of the person or persons pursuing the action.
5. Serve a two-year term of office. Appointment
will be by the President with confirmation by majority vote
of the Executive Committee.
f. The Part-time Concerns’ Representative shall:
1. Be responsible for encouraging and promoting membership
and activities of part-timers.
2.
Serve as an information source to
part-time members to assist them in their affairs and to refer them to
the appropriate parties concerned with matters of interest to them.
3. Maintain files of part-time concerns and procedures in effect
including case studies of past actions so
that members may be assisted in resolution of problems in part-timers'
matters.
4. Treat part-time matters with confidentiality, releasing
information about particular cases only with the permission of the person or persons pursuing the action.
5. Serve a two-year term of office. Appointment
will be by the President with confirmation by majority Vote of the Executive Committee.
g. Retiree Concerns’ Representative shall:
2. Serve as information source to retiree members to assist them in their
affairs and to refer them to
the appropriate parties concerned with matters of interest to them.
3. Maintain files of retiree
procedures in effect including case studies of past actions so that members may be assisted in resolution of problems in retired membership
matters.
4. Treat retiree matters
with confidentiality, releasing information about particular cases only with the permission of the person or persons pursuing the
action.
5. Serve a two-year term of
office. Appointment will be by the
President with confirmation by majority vote of the Executive Committee.
Section 3.
A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the entire membership shall be required to
remove any officer from office for cause.
ARTICLE V:
DELEGATES TO THE UUP DELEGATE ASSEMBLY
Section 1.
Delegates
a. 1st Delegate - President
of Chapter or the Vice President of the same category, if the
Chapter President is elected a member of the UUP Executive Board
b. 2nd Delegate -
Vice-President of Chapter from the alternative category to the President
c. Succeeding Delegates/Alternates -
Designated in order of votes received in elections for Delegates
the respective categories of Academics and Professionals
a. Elected Chapter delegates
or their alternates are expected to attend meetings of the Delegate Assembly. Each Delegate or
Alternate shall be entitled to one vote and must be present to vote.
b. The term of office of
Delegates shall be for two years.
ARTICLE VI: GOVERNANCE
Section 1.
Executive Committee
a. The Executive Committee shall be the Administrative body of
the Chapter and shall consist of the President, Vice-Presidents,
Secretary/Treasurer, Grievance and Affirmative Action Chairpersons, Delegates to the Delegate Assembly, Part-time and
Retiree Concerns Representatives, Past President, Newsletter Editor, and any Chapter
member who may be on the Executive Board of the United University Professions.
b. The administration of the affairs of the Chapter shall
be vested in the Executive Committee which shall be authorized further to take whatever action it may deem necessary
for the best interests of the Chapter. The Committee will
report its actions to the membership at the next meeting of the Chapter and is accountable to the membership for any actions it takes.
d. The Executive Committee may appoint an eligible individual to
fill the un-expired term of any office that becomes vacant, except those with a legal requirement for elections,
such as delegates/alternates to the Delegate Assembly and/or Affiliate
Conventions.
ARTICLE VII: MEETINGS
There shall
be an annual meeting of the Chapter in the Fall of each year and any additional
meetings deemed necessary by the Executive Committee. A meeting may be held upon written request to the Executive
Committee from ten percent (10%) of the membership. A quorum shall be 10% of the membership.
ARTICLE VIII: ELECTIONS
Elections
shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the UUP Constitution.
ARTICLE IX: STANDING
COMMITTEES
Standing
committees of the Chapter shall be in accord with the provisions of the United
University Professions Constitution and shall consist of:
1.
Membership Committee shall:
a. Prepare membership development
programs, activities to solicit members to join from those eligible to
become members, keep up-to-date membership lists, and provide the Chapter
leadership with membership's needs and wants.
2.
Safety and Health Committee shall:
a. Identify
and review safety-related issues affecting employees and to recommend plans for
the correction of such matters. All matters
relating to safety and health shall be considered appropriate matters for discussion and recommended resolution consistent with the UUP Contract.
3.
Elections Committee shall:
a.
Develop procedures for Chapter referendum.
These procedures must be approved by the Executive Committee prior
to their use. Implement approved
Election procedures when directed by the Executive Committee.
b. In all Chapter elections, in addition to the call for nominations that is
mailed to each member at the last
known home address, the Elections Committee shall assure that a slate of at
least one nominee for each office is presented to the membership at a Chapter
meeting. Additional nominations
shall be solicited and accepted at that meeting.
The Elections Committee shall then assure that the slate and any
additional
nominees from the floor are properly nominated in accordance with UUP
procedures. This process in no way limits the right of individuals to
nominate candidates directly following the procedures mailed to their home
addresses.
4.
Other standing committees may be created by amendment of these By-Laws.
5.
Ad Hoc Committees may be appointed as
necessary by the President with approval of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE
X: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The
latest edition of Roberts' Rules of Order (Newly Revised) shall govern all
meetings of the Chapter in cases where they are applicable and not in conflict
with these Bylaws.
ARTICLE
XI: AMENDMENTS
Amendment of these By-Laws shall be by a majority
of the votes cast by the membership in a mail ballot.
Amendments may be proposed to the membership by the Executive Committee
or by written petition signed by ten percent (10%) of the membership of the
Chapter. A proposed amendment must
be submitted by the Executive Committee to the membership for vote at least
thirty (30) days before ballots are counted.
UUP in History
1973
Representatives of the
Senate Professional Association and the State University Federation of Teachers
met to discuss a merger, leading to the formation of SUNY/United, later renamed
United University Professions.
1970s
Established the new
organization as a dominant force and increased union membership. Tackled women’s
issues and the outdated policy of refusing women the right to work once they
became pregnant. New policies were implemented which allowed pregnant women to
work as long as they are physically able and allowing women to use sick and
vacation time to offset any leave without pay. Battled for job security and
tuition waivers. Secured permanent status for professionals. Negotiated five
days of family sick leave and sabbatical leave. UUP became certified as
exclusive bargaining agent representing SUNY academic and professional faculty.
Guaranteed minimum salaries for full-time employees, shortly followed by
coverage of part-timers by a benefits package. Professional “quotas” for SUNY
librarians are removed, winning promotions for librarians on the same basis as
all academics. A similar victory was won for SUNY professionals earlier the
same year. Secured a 9% salary increase. All bargaining unit members protected
by $5,000 in term life insurance provided by UUP. Membership doubles from 1977
to 1979.
1980s
Campaigned for pay equity.
Argued with the Governor’s budget, saying it was “totally inadequate” and a
“recipe for the destruction of SUNY.” Rallied with unionists and students at a
“Save SUNY” rally and achieved an increase in budget, averting the need for the
more than 3,000 proposed layoffs. Suspended the call by a group of taxpayers
for a graduated tuition increase based on parental ability to pay, saying that
this proposal would force students to pay 60% of their overall education costs.
UUP and the state inaugurated a newly negotiated statewide employee assistance
program (EAP), aimed at offering confidential assistance in obtaining treatment
and support from an appropriate human services agency. UUP secured the
designation of E.F. Hutton & Co. as the agent through which bargaining unit
members can make tax-sheltered investments through payroll deduction. Signed a
historic agreement freeing up billions of dollars of TIAA-CREF retirement funds
belonging to participants. New contract includes a 16.3% base salary hike
during the life of the contract and innovations like giving $1 million in
Excellence Awards. Won a battle with the IRS, keeping employee benefits safe
from being taxed. Influenced the return of millions of people to SUNY budget.
Won $3 million for distribution by the NYS/UUP Joint Labor/Management Disparity
committee, which used the money to fund salary disparities. Opposed SUNY’s
attempt to impose parking fees to cure its budget woes.
1990s
Worked for domestic partner
and day care coverage. Dealt with new issues including distance learning,
accelerated technological change, and the growing use of part-time employees.
Appointed a new Retiree Legislative Action Group (RELAG) to develop a
legislative program for retirees. Supported the formal organization of the New
York State Theatre Institute (NYSTI) chapter, as UUP retained the bargaining
rights to represent NYSTI workers even though the state cut the budget and
transferred control of the institute to a public benefit corporation. Secured
flexibility legislation for SUNY’s teaching hospitals. Completed the
three-year-long oral history project, composed of more than 40 interviews
detailing the story of UUP’s founding and growth. Promoted SUNY two-year
colleges to lawmakers and the public. Testified against hospital flexibility
plan because it didn’t take into account the mission of the teaching hospitals
and it jeopardized the integrity of the bargaining unit. Co-sponsored
“Operation Safeguard SUNY” focusing attention on the state university and its
impact on the communities in which SUNY campuses exist. Supported the Campaign
for Sweatfree in New York, opposing the sale of any sweatshop-produced
merchandise to any SUNY campus.
2000s
A slipping economy and state
budget deficits threatened to massively cut programs and funding and force 4,000
layoffs. Focus on job security became first and foremost, followed by contract
negotiations.
2003
Worked
with the chancellor to get assurance for no layoffs. Worked with political
leaders to find new revenue sources to avoid budget cuts because of the fiscal
deficit. Bargained for a new contract to fit the changing needs of members.
2004
Succeeded in getting the
legislative leaders in both houses to put language in the Green Book of
legislative intent that restricted layoffs. Reached an agreement on contract
negotiations, resulting in a 15.6% payroll and a major increase of funding to
the Benefit Trust Fund. Campaigned to raise budget funds for the SUNY colleges,
highlighting bringing funding to the technology colleges. Stopped the proposal
to privatize SUNY’s teaching hospitals. Won a decision making SUNY responsible
for paying minimum salaries to faculty classified as Geographical Full Timers.
UUP became the leading role among higher education affiliates, surpassing AFT
and NYSUT.
2005
Campaigned for increased
funds in the state budget for more full-time faculty. Added to and created a
broad range of benefit enhancements and discounts for members, including dental
overage, eye exams and glasses coverage, infertility coverage, domestic partner
eligibility benefits, and removing deductibles and co-pays from mastectomy
prosthetics. Protected the rights of professionals in the Teachers Retirement
System (TRS). Campaigned for health insurance for part-time workers and a
disciplinary arbitration decision that ordered reinstatement of a suspended,
tenured faculty member whom SUNY wanted to terminate.
2006
Campaigned for even more
funds for more full-time faculty; Pushed for an Optional Retirement Program (ORP)
pension equity bill. Achieved an increase in the state budget, providing $25
million for enrollment growth and the creation of urgently needed, full-time,
tenure-track lines at the state-operated campuses. Advocated for an Early
Retirement Incentive (ERI) that was passed in the Legislature. The UUP Benefit
Trust Fund added a broad range of new discounts and services. Addressed issues
in media outreach, such as academic freedom, the needs of part=time faculty, and
sovereign immunity.
2007
Pushed for legislation
including: an Optional Retirement Program (ORP); Unemployment insurance for
part-time faculty; Sovereign immunity, restoring public employee rights to sue
their employer; The Fair Pay bill, barring employee pay discrimination based on
sex, race and/or national origin; Prohibiting the diminution of health insurance
benefits to SUNY retirees; and health coverage for all New Yorkers.
Successfully advocated for an increase in budget, leading to an increased
budget of $143.2 million with an additional $17 million in funding for the SUNY
state-operated campuses. $10 million of this additional funding was allocated
for new faculty lines and SUNY’s new Office of Diversity and Educational Equity,
which UUP helped develop, along with Assemblyman Peter Rivera and his colleagues
on the Assembly/Senate Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force. Supported nurses
calling for an end to mandatory overtime which was later approved as a bill in
the Assembly.