Academic Year 2012-2013

Inside Higher Ed (Washington, DC)
Date: May 21, 2013
Medical school in recovery
Days before the deadline for submission of a restructuring plan, UUP President Phil Smith once again appeals to the state to come to the aid of SUNY Downstate. >> Full story

The Chief-Leader (New York, NY)
Date: May 20, 2013
New UUP leader vows more activism, tenacity
UUP President-elect Fred Kowal lays out the direction he plans to pursue for UUP once he assumes office on June 1. >> Full story available via paid subscription

The Chief-Leader (New York, NY)
Date: May 13, 2013
Downstate unions urge state to provide a financial transfusion
A crowd of more than 1,000 comes together for three events to mount support to keep SUNY Downstate a full-service, public hospital.

“The Reverend Al Sharpton and other religious leaders joined the Civil Service Employees Association, United University Professions and other unions representing Downstate staff for an interfaith service and a march against further cuts to the hospital, which receives none of the additional funds it needs for survival in the enacted state budget… .

“UUP Treasurer Rowena Blackman-Stroud, who has led the union’s fight against Downstate’s threatened closing for the last two years, slammed Governor Cuomo for passing the buck to the Federal Government.

Mr. Cuomo recently sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius asking for quick action on four Brooklyn hospitals: Long Island College Hospital, Interfaith Medical Center, Brookdale Medical Center and Downstate… .

“[Downstate] is the only fully state-operational hospital. One would think the Governor would be committed to the facility,” Ms. Blackman-Stroud said, noting that the Governor could solve the hospital’s problems with emergency funding right away (the other three hospitals named in Mr. Cuomo’s letter are private, although Downstate owns LICH)… . >> Full story available via paid subscription

Labor Press (New York, NY)
Date: May 10, 2013
SUNY Downstate demonstrators rake Cuomo over the coals
UUP President-elect Fred Kowal vows to keep SUNY Downstate open and protect the jobs of UUP members as he addresses a rally organized by a community coalition in Brooklyn. >> Full story

NY1 (New York, NY)
Date: May 9, 2013
Rally held to keep SUNY Downstate Medical Center open
Rev. Al Sharpton joins UUP and a coalition of faith, labor and community leaders to keep SUNY Downstate open.>> Full story (subsription required to view video)

Mid-Hudson News (Middletown, NY)
Date: May 9, 2013
Student activists, union organizers, confront SUNY chancellor in New Paltz
UUP President Phil Smith disputes the assertion by SUNY's chancellor that SUNY does not participate in contract negotiations, responding to comments she made at a faculty meeting at New Paltz. .>> Full story

Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY)
Date: May 7, 2013
SUNY Cobleskill professor to lead UUP
UUP President-elect Fred Kowal discusses his priorities shortly after his election. >> Full story available via paid subscription

Times Union (Albany, NY)
Date: May 6, 2013
UUP gets a new president
UUP delegates elect Fred Kowal as the union's next president, succeeding Phil Smith.>> Full story

Metroland (Albany, NY)
Date: May 1, 2013
Massive open online uncertainty
UUP expresses its concerns about the implications stemming from MOOCs.>> Full story

Inside Higher Ed (Washington, DC)
Date: May 1, 2013
Adjunct supporters call for $5,000 minimum per course
UUP New Paltz Chapter President Peter Brown organizes a May Day rally calling for additional pay and benefits for adjunct faculty.>> Full story

Times Herald-Record (Middletown, NY)
Date: April 26, 2013
Higher pay for adjuncts is goal of SUNY New Paltz protest
UUP New Paltz Chapter President Peter Brown arranges a May Day rally on his campus to demand that adjuncts and non-tenured faculty get paid $5,000 per course.>> Full story

The Chief-Leader (New York, NY)
Date: April 1, 2013
State budget no aid to Downstate; must restructure by June
UUP reacts to passage of a new state budget that did not include financial relief for SUNY Downstate Medical Center.>> Full story available via paid subscription

LI Herald (Long Island, NY)
Date: March 15, 2013
SUNY facing a critical crossroads
The State University of New York (SUNY) is facing a critical crossroads, a choice between fulfilling its mission and failing to live up to its promise>> Full story

Legislative Gazette (Albany, NY)
Date: March 13, 2013
Coalition asks to reverse SUNY, CUNY funding trend
UUP President Phil Smith joins a coalition of faculty unions and students from SUNY and CUNY to urge that additional funding be provided for public higher education in New York.>> Full story

Lohud (White Plains, NY)
Date: March 12, 2013
Union, public college students lobby for more funding
Speaking at a news conference with other faculty and student leaders, UUP President Phil Smith urged state lawmakers to add money in the new state budget to avoid what he called a very quiet crisis in education.>> Full story

The Capital Report (Albany, NY)
Date: March 12, 2013
Higher ed leaders say funding is not enough
In this video report, UUP President Phil Smith urges lawmakers to increase state funding for SUNY, saying flat funding doesn't provide SUNY with enough revenue on the occasion of Higher Ed Action Day.>> Full story

The Capital Pressroom (Albany, NY)
Date: March 12, 2013
Phil Smith interview
In a radio interview with host Susan Arbetter, UUP President Phil Smith asks state lawmakers to respond to what he described as a quiet crisis in public higher education by allocating additional budget funds for SUNY and its hospitals.>> Full story

Daily News (New York, NY)
Date: March 4, 2013
Downstate deserves better
In a letter to the editor, UUP President Phil Smith makes clear where the blame lies for SUNY Downstate's financial difficulties, and warns against the effects of privatization.>> Full story

Daily Star (Oneonta, NY)
Date: February 20, 2013
UUP, state reach tentative contract
UUP and the state announce a tentative agreement on a five-year contract. >> Full story

North Country News
Date: February 20, 2013
Professional union members at SUNY Canton, Potsdam to vote on new contract announced Tuesday
>> Full story

Times Union (Albany, NY)
Date: February 20, 2013
Union, Cuomo reach a deal
>> Full story

Poughkeepsie Journal (Poughkeepsie, NY)
Date: February 20, 2013
State, SUNY union OK contract
>> Full story
This article also appeared in the Press & Sun-Bulletin (Binghamton), the Democrat & Chronicle (Rochester), the Journal News (White Plains), the Star Gazette (Elmira) and the Ithaca Journal.

Newsday (Long Island, NY)
Date: February 19, 2013
Cuomo, union agree on tentative SUNY contract
>> Full story available via paid subscription

Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY)
Date: February 19, 2013
State hospital subsidy should be fully restored to maintain Upstate University Hospital
In a letter to the editor, UUP President Phil Smith spells out why Upstate needs $35 million in additional funds in the state budget. >> Full story

Legislative Gazette (Albany, NY)
Date: February 18, 2013
SUNY mulls 'right-sizing' Downstate Medical Center
UUP Secretary Eileen Landy warns state lawmakers of the disastrous consequences the possible closure of Downstate Medical Center would bring, during testimony at a public hearing on the proposed state budget. >> Full story

Times Union (Albany, NY)
Date: February 12, 2013
SUNY head: 'We are hemorrhaging money'
In written testimony, UUP President Phil Smith tells state lawmakers at a budget hearing that SUNY needs more state support. >> Full story

The Chief-Leader (New York, NY)
Date: February 1, 2013
Audit: SUNY Downstate in dire fiscal straits
UUP President Phil Smith responds to the results of an audit from the state comptroller that concluded that management mistakes are largely to blame for the financial plight of SUNY Downstate Medical Center. >> Full story available via paid subscription

The Chief-Leader (New York, NY)
Date: January 14, 2013
Union Downstate fight makes Upstate swing
UUP President Phil Smith and Downstate Chapter President Rowena Blackman-Stroud help fire up a crowd of nearly 700 in Albany, including leaders and members of other unions, urging that Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn be spared from privatization or closure. >> Full story available via paid subscription

Labor Press (New York, NY)
Date: January 9, 2013
Shout it out! SUNY Downstate supporters turn up pressure on governor
UUP is joined by a coalition of other unions along with community and faith groups taking the fight ro save SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn to the Capital. >> Full Story

Times Union (Albany, NY)
Date: January 9, 2013
State jobs remain at risk
UUP President Phil Smith joins members from SUNY Downstate, Central Brooklyn's faith, labor and community leaders, members from other chapters and unionists and leaders from NYSUT, CSEA, PEF, the state AFL-CIO and the New York State Nurses Association in an Albany rally to save SUNY Downstate. >> Full Story

Capital Confidential (Times Union blog, Albany, NY)
Date: January 8, 2013
SUNY Downstate: Too big to fail
Hundreds of UUP members join their unions sisters and brothers at an Albany rally to save SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn. >> Full Story

Labor Press (New York, NY)
Date: December 14, 2012
Coalition Seeks to 'Fire Up' Campaign to Save SUNY Downstate
UUP Downstate Chapter President and statewide Treasurer Rowena Blackman-Stroud addresses a meeting of the Central Brooklyn coalition of community, labor and faith-based leaders who teamed up to save health care services and jobs at SUNY Downstate Medical Center. >> Full Story

WBAI Radio (New York, NY)
Date: December 6, 2012
Community coalition comes together to support SUNY Downstate
UUP Downstate Medical Center Chapter President Rowena Blackman-Stroud is interviewed explaining why Central Brooklyn's faith-based, community and labor leaders are coming together in a coalition to save vital health care services and jobs at SUNY Downstate Medical Center. >>Full Story (audio excerpt from the WBAI Evening News)

People's World
Date: September 25, 2012
A fight grows in Brooklyn to save SUNY Downstate
Public health professionals are working to save hundreds of jobs and preserve community services here at a state university-run medical center, the fourth largest employer in the borough. >>Full Story

The Chief-Leader (New York, NY)
Date: September 24, 2012
UUP, elected officials push for state aid for Downstate
UUP President Phil Smith is joined by a host of Brooklyn's elected officials calling upon the governor to stop the job losses at SUNY Downstate Medical Center. >>Full Story available via paid subscription

Daily News (New York, NY)
Date: September 20, 2012
Brooklyn pols to Gov. Cuomo: Stop job cuts at SUNY Downstate Medical Center
Brooklyn's elected, community and faith-based leaders present UUP's petition signed by 10,000 borough residents urging the governor to stop job cuts at SUNY Downstate. >>Full Story

News 12 Brooklyn (Brooklyn, NY)
Date: September 20, 2012
SUNY Downstate employees plan pink-slip protest
Brooklyn leaders and UUP officers team up to present a petition urging the governor to stop job cuts at Downstate Medical Center, including two UUP members who were among the 400 to receive non-renewal notices >>Full Story available via paid subscription

Carroll Gardens Patch (Brooklyn, NY)
Date: September 20, 2012
SUNY Downstate Cuts Protested by Pols, Employees, Clergy
Brooklyn leaders back UUP's effort to save Downstate Medical Center with a show of support at Brooklyn Borough Hall >>Full Story

Journal News (White Plains, NY)
Date: September 20, 2012
SUNY touts shared services; $6M returned to classrooms, chancellor says
UUP responds to a report from SUNY regarding the perceived benefits from its shared services program. >>Full Story
This article also appeared in the (Binghamton) Press & Sun-Bulletin, (Rochester) Democrat & Chronicle, Ithaca Journal and (Elmira) Star-Gazette.

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