The union turns 30

Sam Wakshull huddled with Dorothy “Dottie” Gutenkauf in the banquet hall while Ed Alfonsin and Bill Rock conferred over a policy matter. One almost had to check a calendar to make sure it was, in fact, 2003 and not 1973 — the year Wakshull, Gutenkauf, Alfonsin, Rock and dozens more joined forces to form United University Professions.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Thirty years of UUP history was indeed on display at the Winter DA as the union celebrated a milestone anniversary. Veteran unionists mingled with a new generation of UUP members, retelling war stories and preparing for new battles.

“This weekend, we will pause from our business to reflect on the past and to anticipate the future,” said UUP President William Scheuerman. “That’s what has always made UUP the successful union it is: We learn from and respect our history, but always with an eye toward what lies ahead.”

Wakshull of Buffalo State, UUP president from 1973 to 1981, was joined by former presidents Nuala McGann Drescher, Buffalo State (1981-1987), and John “Tim” Reilly, SUNY Albany (1987-1993). Only UUP’s founding president, Lawrence DeLucia of SUNY Oswego (1973-1975), was missing.

In addition, many former statewide officers and Executive Board members traveled to Albany to be part of the celebration. Some, like Drescher, Alfonsin and Rock, are still active in the union they helped grow.

A 30th Anniversary Committee arranged a weekend full of reminiscences and collegiality. The committee was headed by UUP Secretary Eileen Landy and Membership Committee Chair Edward Quinn. They were assisted by SUNY Albany’s Ivan Steen, who has overseen several historic preservation projects for the union.

Throughout the two-day DA, delegates and guests — old and new — often made more than one stop at an archives room set up to display 30 years of photos, publications and memorabilia. The room was organized by Angell Law of the UUP Communications Department with help from UUPer Brian Keough, curator of the UUP Archives on the SUNY Albany campus, and intern Carla Lesh, also of SUNY Albany.

An anniversary viewbook, with UUP’s history told in words and pictures, was produced by writer Barbara Brown, a UUP member from Albany, and Karen Mattison, UUP’s publications specialist.

A special anniversary video was shown at the DA dinner; copies will be available to chapters for use at chapter meetings and other campus events.

The celebration was capped off by a concert of labor music provided by the six-member Solidarity Singers, featuring Albany UUPer Lawrence Wittner.

— Frank Maurizio