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Report heath & safety concerns regarding COVID-19

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SUBMIT VIOLATION HERE

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UUP Potsdam & Statewide UUP is working diligently to ensure the health & safety of our membership and the communities we live in.

UUP Potsdam will be in contact with administration weekly/daily if needed to have concerns addressed.

If you have a concern of any type, please report it!

Pictures can be sent to Potsdam@uupmail.org

Chapter President - John Cote'

Chapter Assistant - Jennifer Hernandez

Colleagues,

As you may be aware, the situation at SUNY Oneonta has grown worse each day since Sunday with respect to positive COVID cases. Because of the escalating number of cases, SUNY Chancellor Malatras today ordered the campus closed for the remainder of the semester. All courses will be taught online with a very small number of exceptions. Further details are being worked out by the administration at the campus.

I want to commend Ron Bishop and the leadership of the UUP chapter at Oneonta for responding quickly to members’ concerns since the crisis first arose on Sunday. Their calm and responsible leadership was perfect for dealing with this crisis. Kudos to you, Ron and your team!

I have been in daily communication with Chancellor Malatras on the Oneonta crisis and all matters related to COVID in SUNY. As a result of our hard work, over the past several months, we have successfully brought about mandatory surveillance testing of all SUNY campuses. Dr. Malatras informed me of this important step earlier today.

Let’s be clear about the situation. We were right to argue back in June for baseline testing of all incoming students. It’s unfortunate that SUNY did not choose to that course of action. We see the results at Oneonta. Nonetheless, the steps taken over the past week by Chancellor Malatras are in line with what we have been calling for in terms of surveillance testing, mask wearing, and the disciplining of students who violate codes of conduct. We are also pushing very hard for the extension and liberal interpretation of the telecommuting agreement and I am optimistic that we will have news on that front soon.

We continue to work with SUNY and with all chapter leaders and campus administrations to ensure the health and safety of everyone at SUNY’s campuses. We knew that this semester would be more challenging than any other we have faced. It is only through continued diligence and hard work on behalf of our members that we will make it through this semester successfully.

I have included both our statement and SUNY’s statement regarding today’s announcement about Oneonta:

https://uupinfo.org/communications/releases/200903.php

https://t.e2ma.net/message/574ldc/96qt6se

I will continue to keep you posted on developments relative to COVID. In the meantime, please stay in touch and, most importantly, stay well in these difficult times.

In solidarity,

Fred

This negotiated benefit allows UUP-represented academic and professional employees who work full time or part time to take one course each semester and special session (e.g., summer session and intercession) from a UUP-represented state-operated SUNY campus tuition free, as long as space is available in the course. Fees other than tuition are paid by the employee. Those interested in applying should contact Human Resources at the institution they will be attending. UUP chapter offices can also provide information about the process and address member questions. (Contract Article 49)

Some of the benefits on the following pages are available to all UUP-represented employees and some are member-only benefits. Most appointment letters will note if you are benefit eligible, however if you are not sure, or for a FULL list of benefits, please contact the UUP Benefit Trust Fund at 1-800-887-3863 for more information.

It is important to remember that all of these benefits are negotiated through the collective strength of over 37,000 members standing together and speaking with one voice.

Reminder: Major life change? DONT FORGET TO UPDATE YOUR BENEFICIARY

Please fill out the form below to electronically submit a Beneficiary form for your UUP Benefit Trust Fund Group Term Life Insurance.

To enroll and complete a paper enrollment form HERE and you may email, fax or mail to the UUP Benefit Trust Fund.

Fax: 1-866-559-0516 Mail: Benefit Trust Fund , PO Box 15143, Albany, NY 12212-9954 Email: Benefits@uupmail.org

The Department of Civil Service is aware that third party companies, unaffiliated with The Empire Plan, are targeting enrollees with offers to obtain medications for no cost or reduced cost. Do not provide your personal information to these companies; they are not authorized by The Empire Plan. If you are able to provide details regarding the call such as the phone number and the medications they say they will cover, please report this information to the Plan by calling the toll-free number at 1-877-7-NYSHIP (1-877-769-7447) and selecting option 4 to reach the Prescription Drug Program. If you have any questions about your Empire Plan prescription drug coverage, please visit www.cs.ny.gov/empireplanrxprogram or call The Empire Plan toll-free number.

Please join us for this AFT-sponsored free two-part training on Sept. 16 from 6 - 8 p.m. EDT and Sept. 17 from 6 - 7:30 p.m. EDT for a unique learning opportunity focused on Parent-Teacher Home Visits or PTHV. (Participants should plan to attend both days; those who successfully complete the two-day training will receive a professional development certificate upon request.)

Seasoned PTHV national trainers will help participants gain knowledge about strategies to conduct both in-person and virtual home visits. Participants will learn about the “five non-negotiables” of this PTHV model, how to put them into practice (either virtually or in person) and how these practices can lead to a successful school year.

We encourage you to join the training with a school building level team. Teams can include PSRPs, teachers, school/district administrators, school psychologists, nurses, counselors and social workers, as well as other specialized instructional support providers.

Register now!

Dear Friends,

Thank you for telling the Department of Labor not to cut farm worker wages during COVID19. We have a new petition we need you to sign @ https://sign.moveon.org/petitions/primex-workers-firedfor-exposing-company-s-deadly-covid-19-practices?share=87d94109-eb19-4829-b0ab1b4c1178c4cd&source=email-share-button&utm_medium=&utm_source=email.

There is a COVID19 crisis for farm workers at Primex Farms, a major nut company in Wasco CA. The situation is dire. 150 of the 400 workers have now tested positive for COVID-19. Dozens of their family members have also tested positive for COVID-19. Sadly, one Primex worker has since died.

Workers have told us they learned about colleagues testing positive from other workers and media reports, not from the company. Out of frustration with the company giving them the runaround, worker leaders staged a strike on June 25th. Workers were requesting safety measures, including social distancing, company provision of PPE such as face masks and paid sick leave for infected/exposed employees. When the company-promised improvements did not happen, workers -- including those in quarantine with the virus -- held a Zoom press conference that got national attention.

Now Primex is retaliating. Many of the workers who spoke out worked through an employment agency, USA Staffing. On July 22, Primex told the dozens of USA Staffing workers that they were terminated because “production had dropped” -- but then they brought in new workers the same day!

We immediately filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board and appealed to the CA Attorney general. Workers want their jobs back. Primex workers are asking you to sign their petition telling the company to rehire them, with appropriate coronavirus protections in place.

Sign their petition now at: https://sign.moveon.org/petitions/primex-workers-fired-for-exposingcompany-s-deadly-covid-19-practices?share=87d94109-eb19-4829-b0ab1b4c1178c4cd&source=email-share-button&utm_medium=&utm_source=email

Thank you for caring about farm workers!

Si Se Puede!

Jocelyn

Jocelyn Sherman

UFW Digital Director

United Farm Workers UFW started this petition on MoveOn.

Potsdam Chapter Office

Email: potsdam@uupmail.org
Website: https://www.uuppotsdam.org/
Location: SUNY Potsdam
Phone: 315-267-3177
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UUPPotsdam/