Colleagues,

I am writing to you with a request to add your voice to the thousands of other UUP members advocating to keep our union strong and to protect SUNY.  The recently enacted budget has – for now – spared SUNY from budget cuts despite the downturn in the economy. But we must work to guard against likely future cuts and press our representatives in Washington for federal relief in what is expected to be a difficult year ahead.

Please click here: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/uupcovid19letter/ to send a letter to your member of the House of Representatives and our United States Senators. Thanks to Senator Schumer, New York received significant resources for state-operated campuses and our hospitals. In addition to the $180 million direct aid to campuses, we will seek funding from other pools of money from the recent stimulus bill. Today, with your voice, we are advocating for additional resources in the next round of stimulus that will preserve our state funding and strengthen the position of SUNY and the work we do. We have been in constant contact with our national affiliate AFT since this crisis has unfolded and they are incorporating our input into their national agenda.

I thank you for your dedication. Our advocacy and work does not stop in these times of crisis, the times demand we do even more.

In solidarity,
Fred

Dear Colleagues,

In an effort to stay in touch during these strange times, the Binghamton Chapter of UUP will be holding virtual office hours on Monday, April 13 from 2:30-3:30 pm using the Zoom conference system. Jamie Dangler, UUP’s Vice-President for Academics will be joining us on the call. Jamie has been an invaluable resource to all of the UUP Chapters during this crisis and will try to answer any questions you have and tell you more about what UUP has been doing to advocate for and protect our members during this crisis.

Because we know your time is limited, and because we’d like to answer as many questions as possible during this call, we are asking that you try to submit some of your questions in advance. To facilitate, we’ve set up this online form:

Click here to go to the form

Please feel free to include as much (or little) information about yourself as you are comfortable providing. The deadline for question submission is end of day Friday, April 10.  I will send out the zoom link closer to the date (note: in order to maintain security, the zoom meeting will be password protected).

In solidarity!

The UUP website has a direct link to all information related to the Coronavirus. Just click on the Coronavirus link at the top of the page and it will take you to a listing of resources, including a portal which members are using to post questions to us, Fred Kowal video details what UUP working on, and numerous other items. There will be an updated Q & A which reflects the most recent progress UUP has made on issues and the new ones that are coming up thanks to input from so many of you, especially our chapter presidents, who are providing great information to UUP on a daily basis.

Given the current atmosphere on campus, it’s extremely important that professionals understand your rights with regard to the terms and conditions of our contract.  Professionals are being delegated duties initially assigned to their supervisor.  Compensation for additional duties should be discussed and agreed upon prior to taking on these additional duties.

1. Understand the basic principles that apply to your professional obligation.
2. Take advantage of discussing job duties with your supervisor as your Performance Program is being developed
3. Make sure you have a current Performance Program that accurately reflects your professional obligation
4. Consult with the chapter leadership if you have questions
5. Document workload increases
   1. Begin to keep a log of work done in area areas that are subject to workload creep
   2. Use written correspondence to document that you have taken on additional workload for specific reason/projects – and note that you do not consider it to be part of your professional obligation going forward
   3. Make sure your performance Program is modified to reflect workload increases, identifying extra work as such in relation to previous years
6. A change in duties and responsibilities may warrant a promotion, salary increase, reduction in duties, extra service pay or compensatory time
7. Consider requesting a salary increase or promotion whey you feel it is warranted especially if your Performance Program shows an increase in duties and responsibilities
8. If additional duties are added to your performance Program ask for others to be removed, or ask for a salary increase.
   1. Ask for an end date for temporary duties
   2. Ask for a temporary salary increase if duties are temporarily assigned
9. Professionals can self nominate for a promotion or salary increase during the months of January and June.  If you are denied a salary increase or promotion you can appeal to denial to the College Review Panel by contacting the Binghamton Chapter Vice-President for Professionals.

Participate in Workload/Performance Program workshops run by our Labor Relations Specialist

Access the L.E.A.D. Program through the UUP web site to learn more about workload and many other topics.

Keep a copy for The Guide for Professionals handy for tips on how to use your Performance Program to help keep workload in check.  Linked here

Contact your chapter leadership:

• Sean Massey, Chapter President, uupbing@impactvalidity.com, 607-777-2460
• Benita Roth, Chapter Vice President for Academics, broth@binghamton.edu 607-777-5000
• Donald Kunkel, Chapter Vice President for Professionals, dkunkel@binghamton.edu, 607-777-6718

Dear UUP represented employees,

I am happy to report that the telemedicine benefit is now available to enrollees in the Empire Plan, SEHP, and the Excelsior Plan. The Department of Civil Service has posted the message below on NYSHIP Online. In addition, they will send a notice to your Health Benefits Administrators for distribution and will send a postcard to UUP enrollees at their homes.

To access the telemedicine program, LiveHealth Online, enrollees must go to www.empireblue.com/nys to access the link and obtain the coupon code. The coupon code will be entered as the payment. Instructions are attached for signing up. Enrollees should follow the instructions and provide the information as it is requested.

UUP and the Empire Plan is doing all they can to support you and your family through this unprecedented time and is introducing a new telehealth benefit to help you access health care services remotely. LiveHealth Online lets you stay home and have a video visit with a board-certified doctor or licensed therapist on your smartphone, tablet or personal computer.

If you are concerned about leaving your home to receive medical care or your ability to access care, The Empire Plan will cover telehealth visits at no cost to you. Register or login at www.empireblue.com/nys to get a coupon code to cover the full cost of your LiveHealth Online visit.

Please see the attached pdf for instructions and coupon code.

In Solidarity,

Tom

Thomas Tucker
Vice President for Professionals
(800) 342-4206
ttucker@uupmail.org