In early February, United University Professions gathered to mark the start of contract negotiations with New York state. The hybrid kick-off event, hosted in at UUP headquarters in Albany by UUP President Fred Kowal and the union’s negotiations team, was well attended in person and online — with 800 members joining virtually — and demonstrated the strength of UUP membership as well as the high level of interest in and optimism for this round of negotiations.
UUP leaders noted that the February start to negotiations was the earliest in recent memory and emphasized the importance of reaching an agreement before the current four-year contract expires in July.
“We’re starting early because we want to get a deal on time,” said Alissa Karl, statewide vice president for academics at UUP and an associate professor of English at SUNY Brockport.
Karl, who is on UUP’s negotiations team, stressed the importance of negotiating a strong contract for the union’s membership, who work at campuses across the state, as well as academic medical centers in Brooklyn, Long Island and Syracuse.
“We’ve got a really diverse bargaining unit — 41,000 people, all kinds of titles, all kinds of situations — so we need to have an agreement that speaks to everyone.”
Key issues for members include fair compensation; job security; maintaining accessible and affordable health care, concerns related to artificial intelligence, and protections from federal overreach.
Kowal, in his remarks to members, described the negotiations team as “prepared as never before” and highly motivated. “We want to work hard and get the best possible contract done before our current contract expires.”