UPDATES

Delay in payment of the July1/Sept1- 2% increase, NOT a cancellation!

Dear Colleagues,

We received notification from the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations this afternoon that the state is delaying implementation of the 2% across the board salary increases that are due to our members on July 1 or Sept 1 (depending on obligation). At this time, the state has indicated that these raises will be delayed to Sept 30, 2020, subject to further review at that time. The state has informed us that this is a delay in payment of the July1/Sept. 1 2% increase, not a cancellation of the raise.

The delay of the July 1/Sept 1 2% across the board increase for our members mirrors the delay of the 2% increases that were due to other state employees beginning April 1. It is our understanding that the April 1 2% increases due to the other state bargaining units have also been delayed again to Sept. 30, subject to further review at that time.

As we know, the July1/Sept.1 2% increase is contractually provided for in the 2016-2022 State/UUP Agreement. At this time, we are reviewing all options available to us to assure that the state honors its contractual obligation. This will include filing a state-wide class action grievance challenging the state’s failure to implement the 2% increase on a timely basis.

While we did not agree with, or accept, we understand that, the state’s decision is driven by the state budget crisis that has developed as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic. To address this crisis, it is critical that the federal government provide desperately assistance to state and local governments across the country, including New York. This support is provided in the federal HEROES Act which has passed the House of Representatives but has yet to be taken up by the Senate. Just as we asked members to advocate to pass the CARES Act, we are also asking members to advocate for passage of the HEROES Act. Additional specific information about what our members can do to help will be available next week.

In Solidarity,

Fred

We Need You!

As UUP continues to push for a reopening of campuses that is as safe as possible for all in our campus communities, it has become clear that SUNY needs to hear from all of us. Our voices and concerns must be heard by the leaders of the system, and we must be partners to ensure that SUNY opens with the best practices for health and safety protections.

To express our concerns, UUP has developed a petition calling on SUNY to convene a virtual public hearing as soon as possible in July 2020 to discuss the need for clear, consistent, comprehensive guidance for reopening SUNY campuses.

Please add your name to the petition and join us in calling upon SUNY to provide the leadership needed to ensure that no campus communities will be at greater risk than others due to the lack of consistent, system-wide standards for reopening. We will keep this petition active until July 15 and then deliver it to SUNY.

Thank you for standing with your colleagues and adding your name to this important call to action.

In solidarity,

UUP Potsdam Chapter President John Cote'

UUP Statewide President Fred Kowal

Email: Potsdam@uupmail.org
Website: www.UUPPotsdam.org
Location: 44 Pierrepont Avenue, Potsdam, NY, USA
Phone: 3152673177
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UUPPotsdam/