UCTs’ issues targeted

A dozen UUPers segued from their summer schedules to meet in Albany to discuss issues faced by the faculty at the University Colleges of Technology (UCTs).

Led by UUP President William Scheuerman, the group reviewed salary inequities, the ramifications of the trustees’ budget allocation process and other difficulties for members at the University’s technology campuses. These colleges offer specialized, expensive courses and their faculties are responding to a University mandate to provide four-year programs without adequate funding to support the change.

The meeting followed months of union events designed to raise political and public awareness about the plight of UUPers at the UCTs. “We’ve been actively engaged in addressing the unique challenges faced by our members at the technology colleges,” Scheuerman said.

UUP has repeatedly requested the state support needed to properly implement the new program requirements at the UCTs. The University’s imposition of unfunded mandates has been a focal point in the union’s legislative agenda for several years, and was highlighted during volunteer lobbyists’ weekly visits to state lawmakers. Many members also participated in the UCT showcase held in February at the Legislative Office Building in Albany.

All these activities helped to pave the way to an Assembly budget recommendation for the development of a $1 million Agricultural Technology Initiative at the UCTs.

Meetings with newspaper editorial boards in each of the technology campus communities have occurred or are scheduled. These in-depth, detailed interviews enable Scheuerman and UCT chapter leaders to bring to light the personal faces and stories behind the facts and figures at these SUNY colleges.

The Oneida Daily Dispatch was particularly interested in faculty salary parity and published a follow-up exposé on the issue, citing Scheuerman’s goal of rectifying “shameful salary inadequacies.”

Redressing salary inequities was raised again during the Albany summer meeting, regarding UUP’s right under Appendix 31 of the current bargaining agreement to review compensation issues with management.

Now, UCT chapter leaders are gathering campus data on compensation and faculty recruitment and retention to help UUP move forward in these labor/management discussions and to support the union’s claims in other forums.

— Lisa Feldman Reich