Union @ Cooper Union

Contract points for ratification 2010 – 2013

ucuadmin — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:19:49 +0000

Elections

ucuadmin — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 16:26:49 +0000

The election of Union @ Cooper Union officers and Area Representatives will be conducted at the date, time, and place below:

Date: Monday, May 9th 2011

Time: Noon – 6pm

Place: 201A New Academic Building

To meet the needs of members who work part-time or may not be able to vote in person, the Elections Committee has also established a protocol for absentee voting. The absentee ballot is a secret ballot that must be marked and returned by mail to the Election Committee PO Box. (A pre-addressed stamped envelope is provided.)

All absentee ballots must be received by election day, May 9th, 2011. If you wish to cast an absentee ballot, you must obtain one in person from:

Zach Poff, Chair of the Elections Committee
(School of Art Film/Video Office, 5th FL Foundation Building) call x238
Hours: Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri 10am – 6pm (Sorry, no Tuesdays)

You may also contact Daniel Morris, election committee member
(Type Shop, 5th FL Foundation Building) Tuesday – Thursday – or call x256.

General Membership Meeting

ucuadmin — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 16:11:41 +0000

The next General Membership meeting for the Union @ Cooper Union will be held on Friday, April 29, noon -2pm in the Peter Cooper Suite. Lunch will be provided.

Agenda:

Negotiations: Negotiations are over. We will discuss what the team has negotiated.

Elections for May 9th. Nominations for union officers will be accepted through April 29th through the end of the meeting. Please see the Elections notice.

Grievance committee

Financial Report.

General business

April 2011 Newsletter

ucuadmin — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 23:34:46 +0000

Download PDF

Public Program: “Do Unions Still Matter?”

ucuadmin — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 15:20:23 +0000

Amidst recent debates about collective bargaining and the sustainability of pensions and other benefits in tough economic times, unions are increasingly under suspicion and attack. In today’s service-based economy, do unions still make sense, or are they a vestige of an industrial past? Should young people care about protecting unions and bargaining rights? How do workers centers and other forms of worker organizing relate to unions? Join academics and labor organizers for an interactive, thought-provoking exploration of these and other issues.

Apr. 13, 2011 : 7:00pm

Louis Guida, Organizing Director, Workers United/SEIU
Ruth Milkman, Professor of Sociology at the CUNY Graduate Center and Academic Director of CUNY’s Joseph S. Murphy Labor Institute
Tammie Miller, Chapter Chair of the Family Child Care Providers of the United Federation of Teachers
Ed Ott, Distinguished Lecturer, CUNY’s Joseph S. Murphy Labor Institute
Barbara Young, National Organizer, National Domestic Workers Alliance

Moderated by:
Atina Grossmann, Professor of History, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, The Cooper Union
E. Tammy Kim, Adjunct Instructor, The Cooper Union, and Staff Attorney, Urban Justice Center

Organized by:
Kressent Pottenger, Public Programs, The Cooper Union, and Member of Union at Cooper Union, AFT 6420, NYSUT 37-901
E. Tammy Kim, Adjunct Instructor, The Cooper Union, and Staff Attorney, Urban Justice Center

Wednesday, April 13 at 7pm
The Great Hall
7 East 7th Street
This program is free and open to the general public.
Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis

http://cooper.edu/news-events/events/do-unions-still-matter

Letter to UCU from Mark Epstein, Chairman of the Board of Trustees

ucuadmin — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 15:13:39 +0000

Dear Members,

I am in receipt of your letter dated Feb 9, 2011.

The first thing I have to point out is that the Administration is
responsible for negotiating union contracts, not the Board of Trustees. The
Board of Trustees has oversight on the budget proposed by the
administration, and those contracts are part of the overall budget. In
essence, the Board makes a determination if the college can afford the
proposed budget. Salaries and Benefits account for the vast majority of the
budget.

That being said, I want you to know that the Board of Trustees is aware of
the enormous dedication and contributions of the staff at The Cooper Union.
We all know that The Cooper Union is a special place that we are all proud
to be a part of. The Board members are so committed to the mission of the
college that they devote considerable time and effort on the various
committees with no financial compensation. In addition, each and every
Board member donates money to The Cooper Union as an additional show of
support.

Considering the facts at hand; a sluggish economy, the recent collapse of
the markets (somewhat recovered), reduced contributions, and increased
costs, I truly believe that the administration is acting in good faith.
The Cooper Union is not a government entity that can ‘print’ money. Just as
we all benefitted during the easier times, we all have to share some of the
burden during these trying times if The Cooper Union is to continue to
provide access to excellence to our students for another 150+ years. That
is the goal, and the responsibility of The Board of Trustees.

This might not be exactly what you wanted to hear, but it is the truth.

Thank you for everything you do for The Cooper Union.

Looking towards better times ahead, Sincerely,

Mark L. Epstein (Art ’76)
Chairman of the Board of Trustees

Contract Negotiations

ucuadmin — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 04:20:41 +0000

The Union @ Cooper Union is currently in contract negotiations. The bargaining team members are:

Betsy Alwin, Marilyn Whitesides, Leah Hebert, Susan Dorsey and Cara DiEdwardo. Rachel Sophrin sat on the committee this summer as well.

Union Office Hours Changed for the Summer

ucuadmin — Wed, 26 May 2010 02:39:25 +0000

From now until after Labor Day the only union office hours will be held on Tuesdays from 11 – 12 pm.

Please refer to this website to keep informed about changes in office hours and events.

Have a great summer!

Holiday Party – January 15th

ucuadmin — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:53:54 +0000

The executive board would like to wish you and yours a happy and healthy Holiday Season!

Since the New Year is the time to celebrate a new beginning, mark your calendars for a U@CU New Year Kickoff celebration:

FRIDAY, JANUARY 15th, 5:30 PM in the Peter Cooper Suite

Join your fellow union members for a night of music, food and drink.

Until then please enjoy a safe and sound Holiday break!

Election Results

ucuadmin — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:54:46 +0000

The election tally is complete. Thanks to all of the election volunteers, and most of all thanks to everyone who voted. (The overall turnout was over 40%.)

Special Election, Union @ Cooper Union, December 15th, 2009

	Area 300 Rep.	Propositions
Valid Ballots Counted	8	54
Voided Ballots	1	1
Unresolved / contested ballots	0	0
TOTAL BALLOTS CAST:	9	55

(A ballot is “void” if it contains marks that would identify the voter, or is mailed outside a secret ballot envelope.)

Area 300 Representative (Buildings & Grounds)

Winner: Chris Gueren

Changes to the Constitution and By-Laws

All 14 propositions PASSED:

Recognize additional departments as “areas” for representation
Change local dues to sliding scale
Require absentee ballots for elections
Define certain specific election procedures
Limits on the President (when executing local union policies)
Limits on the President (when representing local to external groups)
Vice President coordinates Area Reps.
Treasurer must deliver financial report at each general meeting
Candidates cannot serve on elections committee
Area Rep. elections must follow same rules as Exec. Board elections
Only members of involved area can vote to recall Area Rep.
If officer is recalled by 2/3 majority vote, special election will be held
Define procedure to authorize a strike
Exec. Board officers can be reimbursed for missed work due to Union