Contract talks: Negotiators keeping eye on state budgeters

The negotiations process is continuing at a strong pace, with an aggressive schedule of meetings through June.

The UUP Negotiations Team met with the state May 9 so that the state could conduct a clarification of its demands. During that meeting, state negotiators explained the conceptual language in its proposal, and gave UUP team members a chance to ask questions. UUP conducted its clarification session March 7.

With these required steps completed, the business of crafting a new contract that will best meet the needs of members gets under way. UUP President William Scheuerman knows that the delicate process of achieving the best terms for UUP will take time, especially in the face of the state’s fiscal crisis. But he also knows that the Negotiations Team will approach this difficult task with patience and persistence.

“When you’re negotiating on an $11.5 billion budget deficit, good news is not going to happen quickly, so why rush?” Scheuerman said. “What we are doing is proceeding slowly, because there’s no money out there. We’re working with members of our coalition, such as NYSUT and the Fiscal Policy Institute, to find new revenue sources.”

UUP is monitoring the situation in the Legislature, where there are optimistic signs.

“It may take a while, but the Legislature is discussing new revenue options, and we don’t think they’re far from agreement,” Scheuerman said prior to passage of a legislative budget. “Once the economy improves, then you’ll see speed at the table. We’re not going to rush.”

To reinforce the message that the Legislature needs to listen, UUPers joined thousands of other education unionists, parents, students and faculty from around the state for a massive “March for Public Education” May 3. SUNY faces $183.5 million in cuts in Gov. George Pataki’s proposed budget, and the march achieved the goal of drawing statewide public attention to this critical problem.

“We know that the state’s lawmakers are hearing us, and we will keep pressing them until they respond, by restoring these funds to the SUNY budget and by giving us a clear signal that the state is prepared to meet our demands at the bargaining table,” Scheuerman said.

In the meantime, members will continue to enjoy the protections of the Benefit Trust Fund, which were gained in the last contract, as well as all nonfinancial contractual protections.

Chief Negotiator and UUP Vice President for Academics Phillip Smith is optimistic about the process, given the fact that all phases so far have been on target and on schedule.

“We’re on track, and we have an aggressive schedule of almost weekly meetings through May and June,” Smith said. “The negotiations process is working as it should — with the team conveying the members’ needs and keeping in mind the goal of a contract that creates a strong, supportive atmosphere for all UUPers.”

— Darryl McGrath