Academic Year 2011-2012

Buffalo News (Buffalo, NY)
Date: May 2, 2012
State should require transparency, accountability
In a guest editorial, UUP President Phil Smith asks state lawmakers to pass a measure that would subject the SUNY Research Foundation and the University at Buffalo campus foundations to the Freedom of Information Law. >>Full Story

Times Union (Albany, NY)
Date: April 23, 2012
Public needs better of SUNY foundations
In a guest editorial, UUP President Phil Smith asks for passage of a new law that would lift the veil of secrecy surrounding the SUNY Research Foundation and SUNY's campus foundations. >>Full Story

Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY)
Date: April 1, 2012
Adjunct faculty play big role at colleges
UUP weighs in on the number of part-time faculty teaching at UAlbany in an article about the use of part-time faculty at Capital Region colleges and universities >>Full Story available via paid subscription

Legislative Gazette (Albany, NY)
Date: March 19, 2012
SUNY, CUNY students and profs march in Albany
After leading a march of SUNY and CUNY faculty and students in Albany, UUP President Phil Smith tells reporters why lawmakers should restore the state hospital subsidy to the $128 million figure of two years ago >>Full Story

The Chief-Leader (New York, NY)
Date: March 16, 2012
Save our hospitals
UUP and PEF members demonstrate in Brooklyn against proposals that would end inpatient services at SUNY Downstate's University Hospital and close Kingsboro Psychiatric Center. >>Full Story

Lohud (White Plains, NY)
Date: March 14, 2012
Hundreds rally for more higher-education, K-12 funding
UUPers along with their union brothers and sisters from CUNY march in Albany with students from both SUNY and CUNY to support additional funding for public higher education. >>Full Story

Newsday (Long Island, NY)
Date: March 11, 2012
Farmingdale college celebrates 100 years
On the occasion of Farmingdale's 100th anniversary, UUP Chapter President Yolanda Pauze says the college is coping with more than $13 million in state budget cuts over the last four years. >>Full Story available via paid subscription

Poughkeepsie Journal (Poughkeepsie, NY)
Date: February 2, 2012
Cuomo's flat SUNY funding faulted
UUP President Phil Smith asks state lawmakers for $25 million more in the state budget to hire more full-time faculty during a public hearing on the proposed state budget. >>Full Story
This article also appeared in the Press & Sun-Bulletin (Binghamton), the Journal News (White Plains), the Star Gazette (Elmira) and the Ithaca Journal.

Times Union (Albany, NY)
Date: February 2, 2012
$70M in remedial work for unprepared students saps SUNY budget
Testifying before state legislators at a budget hearing, UUP President Phil Smith explains why $25 million needs to be added to the proposed state budget to hire more full-time faculty. >>Full Story

The Chief-Leader (New York, NY)
Date: January 20, 2012
SUNY bolstering academics
UUP President Phil Smith reacts to the chancellor’s plans to shift $100 million to instruction and expresses continuing concern about NYSUNY 2020: >>Full Story available via paid subscription

NY 1 (New York, NY)
Date: January 11, 2012
Union health care workers blast plans to close Brooklyn hospitals
Nearly 100 UUP members join their union brothers and sisters from PEF and CSEA in Brooklyn to protest the plan to close inpatient services at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and shut Kingsboro Psychiatric Center. >>Full Story

North Country Public Radio (Canton, NY)
Date: January 2, 2012
Unions sue NYS over retiree insurance costs increase
UUP explains the legal rationale behind a lawsuit against the state for its unilateral imposition of a two percent contribution increase that retirees must pay toward their health insurance. >>Full Story

WBAI Radio (New York, NY)
Date: December 30, 2011
UUP interview on lawsuit over retiree health insurance
UUP spokesman Don Feldstein discusses the lawsuit initiated by UUP concerning the state's move to hike the contribution that UUP retirees pay for their health insurance by two percent. >>Full Story (story and interview is lead story on WBAI Evening News)

Daily Star (Oneonta, NY)
Date: December 29, 2011
UUP sues over retiree health coverage
UUP President Phil Smith and Oneonta Chapter President Bill Simons speak out against the state's decision to boost the level of contributions UUP retirees pay toward the cost of their health insurance, as UUP files suit against the increase. >>Full Story

Times Union (Albany, NY)
Date: December 29, 2011
Lawsuits: no retreat on state retiree health care rise
UUP President Phil Smith explains the basis for a lawsuit UUP filed against the state over a two percent contribution increase for health insurance directed at retirees. UUP spokeswoman Denyce Duncan Lacy explains UUP's contract specifically covers retired members. >>Full Story

Democrat & Chronicle (Rochester, NY)
Date: December 29, 2011
Unions suing Cuomo administration over premium hikes for retirees
UUP President Phil Smith says it's wrong to saddle the union's 4,000 retirees with a unilateral two percent increase in the level of contributions they must pay toward their health insurance, as UUP and six other public employee unions file suit against the increase >>Full Story

This article also appeared in the Press & Sun-Bulletin (Binghamton), the Star Gazette (Elmira) and the Poughkeepsie Journal.

Times Herald-Record (Middletown, NY)
Date: December 5, 2011
SUNY New Paltz adjuncts ask more pay; petition draws 2,000 signatures
UUP New Paltz Chapter President Peter Brown delivers a petition to the campus president urging that adjunct faculty be given more money and recognition. >>Full Story

Press & Sun-Bulletin (Binghamton, NY)
Date: November 6, 2011
With PEF deal done, Cuomo focuses on other union contracts
A spokesman for UUP says the union's goal is to reach agreement on a fair contract for its members, as the state increases its focus on negotiations with UUP after a new contract with PEF is finalized. >>Full Story

This article also appeared in the Journal News (White Plains), Poughkeepsie Journal and Ithaca Journal.

Legislative Gazette (Albany, NY)
Date: October 24, 2011
Cuomo picks McCall to lead SUNY board
UUP responds positively to the selection of Carl McCall as chair of SUNY's Board of Trustees. >>Full Story

NY News Connection (New York, NY)
Date: October 18, 2011
NY Regents to push for DREAM Act
UUP President Phil Smith voices his support for the DREAM Act, which would give undocumented immigrants access to tuition assistance at public universities such as SUNY. >>Full Story

Times Union (Albany, NY)
Date: October 17, 2011
UUP's Smith happy with McCall
UUP President Phil Smith expresses his support of the governor's selection of Carl McCall as chair of SUNY's Board of Trustees. Smith also explains the union's concerns about public/private partnerships. >>Full Story

Observer-Dispatch (Utica, NY)
Date: September 28, 2011
Colleges offer expanded use of adjunct professors
UUP President Phil Smith is among those commenting on the trend in higher education of hiring more adjunct faculty. >>Full Story

Watertown Daily Times (Watertown, NY)
Date: September 1, 2011
SUNY Canton holds picket against merger, replacing Kennedy
Students join UUP members from the SUNY Canton Chapter protesting the impending removal of campus president Joseph Kennedy. >>Full Story

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