UUP Press Releases

CONTACT: Denyce Duncan Lacy or Don Feldstein at (518) 640-6600
Lacy’s cell number is (518) 265-3114

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 2 , 2005

MEDIA ADVISORY
Unions to hold conference on the rights of public employees

On Saturday, November 5th , United University Professions (UUP) and four other labor groups are hosting a day-long conference titled, “Preserving the Rights of Public Employees.” The conference will be held at the NYSUT Conference Center, 800 Troy-Schenectady Road in Latham from 10am to 4pm.

The conference is timely given the nomination of Samuel Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court, who has ruled against workers’ rights. His possible confirmation may increase the likelihood that a conservative majority will rule against public employees in cases where federal laws protecting their rights are violated by their employers.

The keynote speaker is Isabelle Katz Pinzler, a nationally recognized civil rights and women’s rights attorney. She served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice from 1994-98. The title of Pinzler’s address is “The Very Real Threat to the Rights of Public Employees: What You Don’t Know CAN Hurt You.” Ms. Pinzler will speak at 10:30am.

The conference is co-sponsored by New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA), Public Employees Federation (PEF) and the Organization of Management Confidential Employees, Inc. (OMCE). Admission is $20 for area labor federation members, $25 for non-members and the public. Students will be admitted free.

UUP represents more then 34,000 academic and professional faculty on 29 New York State-operated campuses, and is an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO and New York State United Teachers (NYSUT).    

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