Capitol corner: Calling all union members

A group of UUP activists is intentionally pushing the buttons of colleagues this month. Unionists are volunteering at regional phone banks throughout New York state, contacting other members for support of all candidates endorsed through NYSUT, UUP’s statewide affiliate.

The callers striving to get out the vote are joining the union’s “foot soldiers” who are going door to door distributing candidates’ materials. Other volunteers are registering voters and mailing campaign pieces. It’s all part of UUP’s political action plan to increase the union’s visibility in local legislative districts.

“We must make sure our friends in the state Legislature know we’re working to get them elected,” said UUP President William Scheuerman. “We’re making a big splash with political action.”

The union’s political activities are not seasonal, however, and won’t stop on Election Day. UUP has also appointed political action and VOTE/COPE coordinators at the regional and chapter levels to engage in year-round district activities.

Regional coordinators will work with UUP leaders to develop political action policy and with local chapters to implement the strategies. Chapter coordinators will recruit rank-and-file activists to carry out the policies and will also — among other activities — participate in NYSUT’s regional political action meetings, attend political fund-raisers and engage in district advocacy.

“We’re taking a progressive approach with political action,” said UUP Political Action Chair Thomas Tucker of SUNY Buffalo. The union’s plan is also intended to increase UUP visibility within NYSUT, build UUP membership and boost VOTE/COPE contributions, he said.

At the same time, the statewide Legislation Committee will continue to develop the union’s annual legislative agenda and make recommendations for Friend of SUNY awards. Both of these proposals are submitted to UUP’s Executive Board for approval.

The Legislation Committee will also coordinate members’ visits to lawmakers in Albany and will help educate UUP activists about legislative issues through training and workshops and by guiding chapter events.

These strategies were discussed during UUP’s legislation and political action retreat in August.

“Our newly activated members want to be briefed and that’s one advantage of education and orientation sessions,” said Patricia Bentley of SUNY Plattsburgh, chair of the union’s Legislation Committee. The briefings also help UUP advocates to speak out with one, clear voice about the union’s issues.

The Legislation and Political Action committees work all year toward UUP’s overall goal of increasing state support for its membership and for SUNY.

“For UUP to be effective, we have to participate all along the process,” Scheuerman said. “That’s how the union builds credibility and influence.”

A list of NYSUT’s political endorsements is inserted in this month’s Voice.

Early retirement incentive update

On another political front, UUP successfully advocated for modification to the state Division of the Budget’s (DOB) restrictive regulations on the traditional early retirement incentive (ERI). The modifications are consistent with past policy.

DOB’s regulations originally circumvented the intent of the recently enacted ERI, which was to allow for the replacement of academic and professional positions of employees who take the incentive.

Now, all academic positions vacated can be refilled, subject to the campus’ ability to replace consistent with its overall budget. Professional vacancies are also eligible for replacement on a highly selective basis.

“The governor and his staff were responsive to our needs and recognized that SUNY and CUNY are unique agencies, which is a step in the right direction,” Scheuerman said.

He also thanked NYSUT for its assistance in getting the ERI restrictions eliminated.

— Lisa Feldman Reich