May 24, 2018

United University Professions has come to a tentative agreement with the state on a new six-year contract that includes salary increases, paid family leave, and a minimum per-course salary for part-time academics.

If ratified, the contract would take effect immediately and run through July 1, 2022. It would be retroactive to July 2, 2016, which is when the union’s current contract expired; UUP has been without a new contract since then.

Details of the agreement are available on UUP’s Contract Negotiations web page.

“This is a fair and equitable agreement that meets the unique needs of our members and provides them with reasonable salary increases, paid family leave benefits, a new minimum salary for part-time faculty, and other enhancements that address members’ concerns,” said UUP President Fred Kowal. “We fought hard for the gains in this pact and we believe our members will recognize that.”

The tentative contract was signed by Kowal and UUP's Negotiations Team as well as state negotiators May 23. UUP’s Negotiations Committee approved the pact May 24.

CLICK HERE to see the state's media release on UUP’s contract.

Agreement details

Highlights of the tentative agreement include:

• 2 percent salary increases each year of the contract, retroactive to July 2016;
• Inclusion of the state’s Family Paid Leave provision in UUP’s contract—making it New York’s first public-sector union to negotiate the policy;
• Beginning in 2019, a minimum starting salary for part-time academics for each three-credit course they teach. This is the first time that UUP has been successful in negotiating a minimum salary for part-time academics on SUNY's state-operated campuses;
• A new compensation provision that establishes on-base funds, allowing UUP to address salary compression and inequity at campuses statewide;
• The reestablishment of on-base discretionary salary income (DSI) increases;
• Provisions to address hospital needs regarding on-call and holiday pay—which will positively impact UUP professionals at all campuses;
• Access to a yearly grant to help members pay for their child’s education at a SUNY state-operated campuses.

UUP Chief Negotiator Mike Smiles, above, and Negotiations Team members will meet with UUP members at each chapter and personally present the tentative agreement to them. Kowal and the union’s statewide officers will be at some of the meetings. Check with your chapter leaders or log onto UUP’s Members Only page for the most up-to-date information on chapter visits.

The full text of the tentative contract proposal is also being prepared and will be mailed to members. Information on the ratification vote will be included in the mailing.

The American Arbitration Association (AAA) will conduct the ratification vote on Sept. 5. Ballots will be sent out to members via U.S. Mail on Aug. 3. To be counted in the vote, ballots must be returned to UUP by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 4.