Albany, NY – United University Professions (UUP), America’s largest higher education union, has opened negotiations for a new contract with New York state.
This is the first time in decades that both sides have agreed to begin contract talks early in the process and both sies are hopeful a tentative agreement could be reached before the Union’s 2022-2026 contract expires on July 1st.
“We appreciate the Governor’s willingness to start negotiations now instead of starting them later and risk having our contract expire. Such an early start hasn’t happened in recent memory,” UUP President Fred Kowal said. “We want to work hard and get the best possible contract done before our current contract expires. We’re going in absolutely, completely prepared as never before with the stated intention that we’re ready to go.”
“Our aim is to bargain a new contract before the current one expires and we’re hopeful that we can get it done,” UUP Chief Negotiator Bret Benjamin said. According to Benjamin UUP’s main issues for the new contract include: Salary and compensation; Job security, especially expanding access to permanency; Maintaining affordable, accessible health care; and Addressing Artificial Intelligence (AI) concerns and protections against Federal overreach into grant funding, health care and Higher Education. “Our negotiations team has been working hard on a comprehensive set of ambitious, transformative proposals and the Team Members are looking forward to getting to the table,” Benjamin continued.
Under the Triborough Amendment, a Taylor Law Provision, UUP’s contract terms – agreements pertaining to salary, benefits and working conditions, continue until a new contract is ratified.
In August 2023, UUP Members overwhelmingly approved a new four-year contract with the State that delivered across-the-board raises for each year of the agreement, per-course minimum increases for Adjuncts and part-time faculty, retention awards, minimum salary increase for UUP’s lowest-paid academic ranks and professional grades; and a zero increase in basic health insurance costs.
UUP is the Nation’s largest Higher Education Union, with more than 42,000 Academic and Professional Faculty and Retirees. UUP members work at 29 New York State-operated campuses, including SUNY’s Public Teaching Hospitals and Health Science Centers in Brooklyn, Long Island and Syracuse. UUP is an Affiliate of the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the National Education Association (NEA) and the AFL-CIO.
