To the Point:

On turning 30

By William E. Scheuerman

UUP President

Thirty years ago a handful of SUNY academic and professional faculty said “no more” to the all-too-often arbitrary and unilateral decisions of management. They believed that professional workers needed more than just the often empty promises and occasional backing of those whom Thorstein Veblen dubbed the Captains of Erudition. Professional workers, they believed, had to control the professions they practiced. So they decided that a union — a strong and democratic union — was the best way to gain control over the profession they practiced. And they were right!

Out of this vision emerged UUP, the largest and most powerful higher education union in the U.S. Make that the world. Over the years, UUP has become the leading advocate for the professions we practice and for our University and its many constituencies. Behind this advocacy is the force of law and the energy of thousands of colleagues who are willing to do whatever is necessary to realize our founders’ vision. Whether we’re fighting for a fair budget, battling to enhance our professional development opportunities or protecting our intellectual crafts from overzealous managers, UUP is always in the lead. Our willingness to fight for our professions and our track record of victories, even in the face of what sometimes appeared to be insurmountable odds, have not only brought us the respect and credibility of our members, but it also brought the respect of those who oppose our vision.

Is UUP perfect? Of course not. But to understand how much UUP has accomplished, we need to keep one basic fact in mind: Before the formation of a union at SUNY, management controlled almost everything. Since UUP was founded in 1973, we have consistently chipped away at managers’ powers. We’ve fought successfully for more professional autonomy, more workplace dignity and for all the benefits and financial rewards that make working at SUNY worthwhile. To put it more graphically, if management once controlled the whole pie, every year we’ve taken a slice away.

UUP’s success is reflected in a number of ways. One basic measure is the growth in membership. When we were formed, UUP had fewer than 5,000 members. When we celebrated our 25th anniversary, our membership jumped to more than 18,000. Today we have more than 22,000 members in a growing bargaining unit of more than 28,000. In fact, we’re the only statewide union that has experienced growth — and we expect it to continue.

Another barometer of a union’s success is the level of support of the membership. On that scale we’re doing well too! UUPers aren’t just passive dues-payers waiting for their union to do something for them. UUP’s democratic culture is inclusive. That’s why the activity level of rank-and-file UUPers is on the upswing. Our members engage in advocating for a good SUNY budget. They participate in demonstrations and turn out in record-breaking numbers to vote on the contract, giving almost unanimous support to the proposals that their leaders negotiate. They contribute to the important VOTE/COPE fund, participate in union-negotiated research projects and devote endless hours working with the many coalitions and community organizations that support UUP’s vision. The list of all the things our members do is almost endless. But suffice it to say that our members — sisters and brothers in struggle — know that UUP is their union and that our efforts have a significant impact on their professional lives. Our founders’ vision lives because we know that collective action works!

So, as we celebrate our 30th anniversary, let’s remember our origins; let’s pay tribute to our founders; and, most of all, let’s renew our commitment to building a strong union capable of meeting the challenges facing public higher education. Because the one thing we can be certain of is there will be plenty of tough challenges in the years ahead.

Thank you and happy anniversary!