Developing new leaders

Nearly 70 chapter leaders from campuses across the state nodded knowingly — and a bit warily — as Frank Mauro of the Fiscal Policy Institute described New York’s fiscal situation and its possible impact on the budget process.

The UUPers were in Albany earlier this year to participate in the second part of a three-part series of workshops presented by the union to those assuming leadership roles at their chapters. The final installment is scheduled for April 5-6.

The workshops, facilitated by the UUP/NYSUT labor relations specialists, focused on grievance advocacy; organizational and procedural provisions of the contract; and workplace violence.

But, before they got down to union business, the workshop participants heard from Mauro, one of the capital’s most respected and insightful budget analysts, who provided a historical perspective of the budget process in New York state and related it to the current realities in Albany.

And what he told the well-informed unionists was something they already knew: UUP has its work cut out for it this year as it advocates for a sufficient budget for SUNY.

Mauro took direct aim at the flat budget proposed in the Executive Budget: “You can’t provide the same level of services with the same amount the government spent last year.”

New York’s financial situation — unemployment up and tax revenues down — provides a challenge to lawmakers to meet all the needs of the state, according to Mauro, who decried plans to implement “tax cuts for special interests.” He also said cutting goods and services is the “worst cut” government can make during a recession.

Instead, Mauro said New York state needs the federal government to reimburse it for lost tax revenue directly attributed to the World Trade Center disaster of Sept. 11. He also called for the state to refinance its debt and to implement a tax amnesty program.

Still, according to Mauro, UUP should continue to make its case for the state university with lawmakers who must determine the makeup of the final budget for 2002-03.

“The better job you do pressing for your needs, the clearer it becomes to policymakers that they can’t solve all our problems by cutting spending,” Mauro reminded the UUPers. “It doesn’t make sense on an economic side and it doesn’t make sense on a fairness side.”

— Frank Maurizio