2010 WINTER DELEGATE ASSEMBLY 

FEBRUARY 5 – 6, 2010 
 

The 2010 Winter Delegate Assembly was called to order by President Phillip H. Smith at 5:00 p.m., Friday, February 5, 2010 in the King Street Ballroom of The Desmond Hotel, Albany, NY. 

In Pre-Plenary Activities:

• Delegates held a Save SUNY Rally at the State Capitol.
• Academic Delegates had a panel presentation on Imagining Globalization: A Project Celebrating Academic Diversity.
• Professional Delegates held an open forum.

• President Phil Smith presented the 2010 Friend of SUNY Award to Assemblywoman Deborah Glick, Chair of the Assembly Higher Education Committee.
•  Delegates adopted a Special Order of Business from the Cortland Chapter in Support of Good Faith Negotiations on behalf of the Research Associates at the SUNY Research Foundation. 
  

Whereas, the Research Foundation has not been willing to enter innegotiations with Research Assistants at the Research Foundation; therefore be it

Resolved, that UUP call on the Research Foundation and John O’Connor to do the right thing and enter good faith negotiations with Research Associates at the Research Foundation. 

• Delegates adopted a Special Order of Business on Haitian Relief.

Whereas, we are aware of the untold devastation and destruction caused by the earthquake in Haiti; and

Whereas, this tragedy has resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives and the suffering of the Haitian people, our Haitian friends, neighbors and family members; be it

Resolved, that UUP ask its members to do all they can to help Haitians survive the massive January 12, 2010 earthquake; and be it further

Resolved, that UUP pass the hat at this Winter Delegate Assembly with all proceeds going to the AFT Haitian Relief Fund, with UUP matching all donations collected up to $1,000. 

• Delegates heard the Report of President Phil Smith.

At the Friday Night Dinner: 

• Delegates were addressed by Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers.

At the Saturday Morning Plenary: 

• Delegates adopted a Special Order of Business from the Technology Sector Committee, Elections and Credentials Committee, EOC Committee, Family Leave Committee, Outreach Committee, Part-Time Concerns Committee, Veterans Affairs Committee and Women’s Rights and Concerns Committee in Support of UUP’s Stance with the Commission on Public Integrity.

Whereas, the Delegate Assembly of United University Professions is a democratic body which subscribes to the democratic principles upon which this country is founded; and

Whereas, we citizens of this United States enjoy the Constitutional Rights of Assembly and Petition; and

Whereas, these dearly held rights have been violated by selective enforcement of the New York State Lobbying Act; therefore be it

Resolved, that the Delegate Assembly of United University Professions offers its steadfast support to President Phillip Smith in his continuing battle with the Commission on Public Integrity; and be it further

Resolved, that the Delegate Assembly request the Executive Board of United University Professions to authorize all expenditures necessary to bring a successful conclusion to this matter. 

• Delegates heard the Reports of the Vice President for Academics; the Vice President for Professionals; the Secretary and Elections and Credentials Committee; the Treasurer and Finance Committee; and the Membership Development Officer and Membership Committee.

• Delegates referred a Resolution Recommending that UUP End its Relationship with AAUP back to the Executive Board for a report at the 2010 Spring Delegate Assembly.

The UUP Executive Board recommends to the 2010 Winter Delegate Assembly that UUP end its relationship with AAUP immediately. 

• Delegates adopted a Special Order of Business congratulating Patty Bentley for her work in the successful election of Democrat Bill Owens.

Whereas, a key special election in New York’s 23rd District was held on November 3, 2009, in which Bill Owens, a Democrat, defeated the Conservative Party’s candidate, Doug Hoffman, who was supported by such notable national figures as Tim Pawlenty, Governor of Minnesota, Fred Thompson, Republican primary candidate for President, and media entertainers Glen Beck, Rush Limbaugh, and Sean Hannity; and

Whereas, our UUP sister, Patty Bentley, worked vigorously and effectively to elect Bill Owens in this traditionally Republican Congressional District; it is hereby

Resolved, that this Delegate Assembly request that President Phil Smith send a letter to Patty Bentley, expressing sincere and hearty congratulations on her remarkably successful efforts in helping to achieve this victory; and be it further

Resolved, that in as many venues as possible, UUP cite the example of Patty Bentley’s work in this historic campaign so that it may serve as an inspiration and an aspirational model of political success that can be achieved by unionists when they engage in the local, state, and national political processes that define our lives and careers. 

• Delegates adopted a Resolution on Maintaining Retiree Health Coverage from the Committee on Active Retired Membership and the Retiree Legislation Action Group.

WHEREAS, under New York State Civil Service law, State retirees have traditionally been given the same health care coverage granted in the contract to currently employed personnel; and

WHEREAS, under Tier V legislation for new employees, NYSUT received a guarantee that health care coverage for retirees based on local contracts with the active workforce would be permanent; and,

WHEREAS, HR 1322, the Emergency Retiree Health Benefit Protection Act, currently included in the Affordable Health Care for Americans Act (HR 3962) which was passed by the House of Representatives, prohibits employers from reducing health benefits after retirement unless a corresponding reduction is made in the active workforce benefits; and

WHEREAS, maintenance of health care coverage is vital to the well-being of UUP retirees; therefore be it

RESOLVED, that UUP will do all in its power to maintain the same retiree health care coverage based on the contract for actively employed personnel; and be it further

RESOLVED, that if Tier V is extended to ORP, that it include a permanent guarantee of health care coverage for retirees; and be it further

RESOLVED, that UUP do all in its power to support HR 1322, to guarantee the maintenance of health care benefits for all retirees. 

• Delegates adopted a Resolution in Opposition to the Proposed Tax on Medicare from the Committee on Active Retired Membership.

Whereas, in Governor Paterson’s proposed budget there is the imposition of a new tax on Medicare Payments by the State of New York. [This is 25% for families and 10% for individual coverage.]; and

Whereas, this tax is targeted at Retirees and employees age 65 and over who receive Medicare Part B, and that this tax is onerous to those who currently live on or who will shortly live on fixed incomes; therefore be it

Resolved, that UUP will do all in its power to work with other New York State public employee unions and to advocate for this class of employee and retiree to stop the imposition of this proposed tax. 

• Delegates voted to refer to the Membership Committee a Resolution from the Part-Time Concerns Committee to Amend the Nominating Procedures for the Fayez Samuel Award.

Whereas, the PTCC recommends that the UUP Executive Board makes a policy change to the nomination procedures for Fayez Samuel Award to reflect the opinion of the committee; be it

Resolved, that any individual UUP member or any group (such as a committee, task force or chapter Executive Board) of UUP members in good standing may nominate any other UUP member who is a part-time employee. A nomination submitted by an individual must be signed by that person.  

• Delegates voted to reaffirm UUP’s Endorsement of the Single-Payer approach to Health Care Reform. The Resolution was brought by the Labor and Higher Education Committee, the Nursing Professions Work Group, the Solidarity Committee and the Women’s Rights and Concerns Committee.

WHEREAS, UUP has proudly endorsed the single-payer approach to health care reform since 1994; and

WHEREAS, UUP was among the earliest union endorsers of H.R. 676, the “Improved, Expanded Medicare for All” single payer bill sponsored by Congressman John Conyers, now endorsed by close to 600 local, national and international unions, Central Labor Councils and State AFL-CIO Federations; and

WHEREAS, the AFT endorsed H.R. 676 at its National Convention in 2008; and

WHEREAS, the AFL-CIO endorsed a single-payer approach including H.R. 676 at its 2009 Convention; and

WHEREAS, the health care reform legislation currently in Congress will enshrine the centrality of the for-profit health-care insurance industry, thus making real cost containment, affordability or universal coverage impossible; and

WHEREAS, these proposals threaten to penalize union members by taxing our hard-won health-care benefits; and

WHEREAS, the current legislation threatens to roll back women’s hard-won right to control our reproductive destiny; therefore be it

RESOLVED, that UUP proudly and enthusiastically reaffirm our support for H.R. 676, and pledge our union’s continued, active support for this and any successor legislation; and be it further

RESOLVED, that UUP actively educate our members about health-care reform, including H.R. 676 and single-payer health care; and be it further

RESOLVED, that UUP bring this resolution to the AFT Convention this summer; and be it further

RESOLVED, that UUP continue and enhance our active involvement in advocacy for single payer health-care reform within the broader labor movement. 

• Delegates defeated a Resolution from the Labor and Higher Education Committee.

WHEREAS, the current budget threat to SUNY’s integrity and mission is severe; and

WHEREAS, SUNY is a critical institution for New York’s working people and their children; therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Delegate Assembly calls on UUP leaders and chapters to reach out to the larger labor movement in New York to explain the importance of saving SUNY from the flex agenda and other budget cuts, and to bring the state AFL-CIO, local Labor Councils, other unions, and other worker organizations into a coalition to save SUNY from the flex agenda and other budget cuts; and be it further

RESOLVED, that President Smith report to UUP state and local chapter leaders on progress in this regard by March 15, 2010; and with follow-up reports and guidance for further work in this regard as appropriate; and be it further

RESOLVED, that UUP bring into the public budget discussion Fiscal Policy Institute estimates of the beneficial budget consequences of restoring progressivity to the New York state income tax to levels in effect before the era of tax cuts for the rich began in the mid-1980s. 

• Delegates adopted a Resolution Calling for Participation in the March 20 Demonstration against the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars in Washington, DC from the Labor and Higher Education Committee.

WHEREAS, March 20 marks the seventh anniversary of the start of the war and occupation in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, a national anti-war march and rally will take place in Washington DC on March 20 to call for an end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; and

WHEREAS, US Labor Against the War has endorsed the March 20 mobilization; and

WHEREAS, UUP is a charter member of USLAW and has a long history of participating in anti-war action; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Delegate Assembly calls on UUP leaders, chapters, and members to build UUP participation in the March 20 demonstration in DC as part of the labor contingent. 

• Delegates adopted a Resolution on the Dangers of Differential Tuition from the Task Force on Emerging Issues of Diversity, Affirmative Action Committee, LGBTQ Committee and Women’s Rights and Concerns Committee.

Whereas, in this time of recession and job loss, the Governor of the State of New York has proposed legislation euphemistically entitled the Public Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act (PHEEIA); and 

Whereas, this proposed act includes the Differential Tuition Plan, a plan that will have the most harmful effect on those members of the bargaining unit represented by the Diversity Taskforce and those students with less disposable income,  because it promises less funding per student at campuses within SUNY;  and

Whereas, this plan creates a multi-tiered system based on students’ ability to pay, and negatively affects class size; department staffing; student services; salaries; continuing and permanent appointments; supplies, equipment, and the physical plant;  and the overall quality of the workplace; therefore be it

Resolved, that UUP oppose the Differential Tuition Plan and continue to emphasize the danger this initiative will have on members of protected classes within the bargaining unit and among students; and be it further

Resolved, that UUP provide talking points that can be used on campuses to educate and mobilize UUP constituencies in understanding the radical nature of this legislation and its effect on protected classes; and be it further

Resolved, that UUP encourage outreach such as tabling of informational material, writing opinion pieces and letters to the editor in local newspapers  including the student newspapers, and meeting with legislators within their districts in order to ensure that  the consistently excellent education provided by SUNY  will remain accessible to all.

• Delegates adopted a Resolution on Making the Reform of the Current NYS Income Tax Structure a Priority, not a “top” priority from the UUP Outreach Committee.

Recognizing the extraordinary crises that UUP is currently facing, the Outreach Committee moves that the resolution adopted at the Winter 2009 Delegate Assembly which puts reforming the current regressive NYS income tax structure as the top priority for the Legislative Agenda be amended to remove the word “top” and keep it as a priority. 

• Delegates adopted an Expression of Thanks for Hard Work by the Part-Time Concerns Committee.