For Immediate Release
July 27, 2026
Members of United University Professions, the union that represents more than 42,000 academic and professional faculty at State University of New York (SUNY) state-operated campuses, have resoundingly ratified a new five-year contract with New York state.
The contract was approved by 97.7% of eligible voters who cast ballots, one of the union’s largest contract ratification percentages in its 53-year history. Of those voting, 13,445 members voted for the new contract and 305 voted against it.
MK Election Services, a union company that UUP has used in past contract ratification votes, conducted the election and tallied the votes today. Voting opened July 10 and closed at 5 p.m. today.
The contract is retroactive to July 2, 2026, and runs through July 1, 2031.
“Once again, UUP members stepped up in record numbers to vote in favor of our new contract,” said UUP President Frederick E. Kowal. “This victory is further proof of the power of UUP and of organized labor. Standing together, we collectively bargained a solid agreement with the state that will provide our members with fair compensation, increased job protections and security for the future.”
"I would like to thank Gov. Kathy Hochul for her willingness to work with us on a contract agreement that was embraced by our members and rewards the important work they do,” Kowal said. “The governor understands the importance of public education and she’s been a champion for SUNY since taking office. We appreciate her strong support.”
UUP’s new contract directly addresses the threat of artificial intelligence to members. The agreement includes wording that all SUNY courses will be under the “direction and responsibility” of humans, and that humans will have the “ultimate accountability” for work done by AI systems.” UUP is one of the first unions in the country to negotiate such stringent AI protections for its members, Kowal said.
“One of our biggest concerns heading into negotiations was the threat of artificial intelligence to our members and to the quality of a SUNY education,” Kowal said. “We will build upon these protections in future negotiations, because we believe that these protections will go far in safeguarding the jobs of our members.” Other highlights of the contract include:
- Across-the-board salary increases in each year of the contract, including a 4.5% salary increase in 2026, 4% in 2027, 3.5% in 2028 and 3% increases in each of the last two years of the agreement
- A new Retention Award for bargaining unit members with 17 years at SUNY and increased compensation for previously negotiated Retention Awards at 7 and 12 years
- A $600 annual lump sum payment for full-time bargaining unit members with a Master’s degree or higher; part-time members with at least a 0.5 FTE appointment will receive a $300 payment
- Increases in part-time academic course minimum rates and across-the-board minimum salary increases
- Expanded Downstate and Mid-Hudson location pay, including SUNY New Paltz members in Ulster County for the first time
- Hospital-specific compensation (including gains for UUP-represented Residents and Fellows) and increases in on-call, recall and inconvenience pay
- Lowering the employee share of healthcare premiums for approximately 6,500 UUP members
- Expanded due process and job security protections
- Minimizing the role of student surveys in teacher effectiveness evaluations
- Expanded provisions for telecommuting and remote work.
Kowal, Chief Negotiator Bret Benjamin and members of UUP’s Negotiations Team members met with members at SUNY’s state-operated campuses, public teaching hospitals and System Administration to explain the contract and answer questions, either in person or virtually.
"Our Negotiations Team, under the leadership of Chief Negotiator Bret Benjamin, did an amazing job to bring home a contract we can all be proud of,” Kowal said.
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