About UUP

Q: When was UUP formed?

In 1973, the Senate Professional Association (SPA), an affiliate of the NEA, and the State University Federation of Teachers (SUFT), an affiliate with the AFT, creating SUNY/United. The name is later changed to United University Professions.

Q: Where can I learn more about UUP’s history?

UUP has a webpage devoted to its long history for detailed information on its founding and more, visit: http://uupinfo.org/history/adminhist.php

Q: What does UUP do?

UUP represents SUNY faculty and other professionals at the bargaining table and works to protect their interests by:

• Achieving improvements in salary, fringe benefits, working conditions and retirement programs.
• Providing funding for professional growth and development through leaves, awards, conferences and other grant programs.
• Obtaining state resources for the State University through effective legislative and political action.
• Seeking to enhance and preserve the quality of the University.

As the largest higher education union in the nation, UUP is also a source for information on labor unions, state work force and bargaining issues, higher education reform, college faculty concerns and a variety of higher education topics

Q: Who does UUP represent?

UUP’s membership reflects the diversity of SUNY. Our union represents workers in more than 500 job titles, including:

• Academic faculty
• Student Affairs personnel
• Librarians
• Public Relations personnel
• Doctors, dentists, nurses and other professionals at teaching hospitals and Health Sciences Centers
• Graphic artists
• Student recruitment professionals
• Educational Opportunity Center instructors
• Financial aid counselors
• System Administration staff
• Student resident hall personnel
• Admissions counselors

Q: What are UUP’s founding principles?

UUP’s founding principles may be found in ARTICLE II, PURPOSE of its statewide constitution:

The purpose of this organization shall be to improve the terms and conditions of employment of those it represents; to promote mutual assistance and cooperation among the members of this organization; to advance education in a democracy and democracy in education; to promote the principle of unity and collective bargaining in higher education; and to defend the civil, professional, and human rights of those it represents.

Q: Is UUP’s constitution available online?

Yes, UUP’s statewide constitution is available online at, http://uupinfo.org/constitution/constitution.php

Q: Is UUP affiliated with any statewide or national union?

UUP is an affiliate of NYSUT (New York State United Teachers) and the AFT (American Federation of Teachers).

Q: What is UUP’s local number?

UUP’s AFT local number is 2190; the UUP NYSUT local number is 1190.

Q: How is UUP organized?

UUP is organized by ‘chapters’ which represent the 29 SUNY campuses across New York State.

Q: What is PSNU?

The Professional Services Negotiating Unit (PSNU, also called the `08 Bargaining Unit) is the official bargaining unit name of UUP referred to by the State University of New York (SUNY) and the Governors Office of Employee Relations (GOER).

Benefits

Q: I am a new UUP member and I understand that I have dental and vision coverage through the UUP Benefit Trust Fund. How do I get my dental and vision cards?

During your campus orientation you will receive a Benefit Trust Fund Enrollment card. Once this card has been filled out and received by the Fund we will contact both Delta Dental and Davis Vision with your information. Your dental and vision cards will then be mailed to your address on record in approximately two weeks.

Q: How do I add my dependents?

During the initial orientation process, dependents are simply listed on the Benefit Trust Fund Enrollment card. If dependents are added later, the Benefit Trust Fund Change of Marital or Dependent Status card needs to be used. This card can be found here. Additionally, the appropriate legal documents (birth or marriage certificate, etc.) will need to be provided to add dependents outside of the original orientation period.

Q: Does the UUP Benefit Trust Fund cover dependents up to age 26 for dental and vision benefits?

No, dependents are only covered up to age 25 for dental and vision benefits if there is a valid student verification on file for them.

Q: Can I list more than one beneficiary for my Group Life Insurance policy?

Yes, you simply need to include all your requested beneficiaries on the UUP Group Life Insurance Beneficiary Card and send the card to the UUP Benefit Trust Fund.

Q: My child just turned 19 and is currently a college student. How do I make sure that he is covered for dental and vision benefits under the UUP Benefit Trust Fund?

We will need to have a valid Benefit Trust Fund Student Verification form on file. Just go here, fill out the form, have it notarized and send it to the UUP Benefit Trust Fund. This form will need to be updated annually to ensure your dependent’s eligibility.

Q: I will be going off payroll soon. I understand that I will be able to continue my UUP Benefit Trust Fund dental and vision benefits through COBRA? How long can I expect to have the COBRA coverage?

COBRA coverage is for 18 months for UUP members who leave employment.

Q: I just moved and I was wondering how I can change my address and telephone number for my dental and vision benefits?

You just need to fill out the Benefit Trust Fund/UUP Member Change of Address card. This card can be found here. Fill it, and send it into the UUP Benefit Trust Fund and we will make sure that your new information is sent to Delta Dental and Davis Vision.

Q: I was interested in purchasing more life insurance? Can I do this through the UUP Benefit Trust Fund?

No, but you can purchase additional life insurance through our affiliate – NYSUT. Just call 800-626-8101 and they will be able to answer all your questions.

Q: How do I add my domestic partner to my dental and vision benefits?

This process must be directed through your campus Health Benefits Administrator (HBA). Your HBA will have you fill out the appropriate paperwork which will then be sent to the New York State Dept. of Civil Service. Once Civil Service processes the paperwork they will send the UUP Benefit Trust Fund a report from which we will add your domestic partner to your benefits.

Q: I retired from SUNY Stony Brook early last year and have just finished my 18 months of COBRA coverage for dental and vision benefits. What happens now?

If you retired as a UUP member you are eligible to join the UUP Retiree Dental and or Vision plans. Just call 800-342-4206 and ask for the Retiree Coordinator for additional information.

Legislation

Q: Where can I find UUP’s Legislative Agenda?

It is updated by the Outreach Committee and approved by the Executive Board annually. The UUP Outreach Committee and the Legislation Department put together a Political Action Manual that contains information on New York State politics, UUP’s legislation agenda and UUP’s Albany and district lobbying campaigns. UUP members can obtain a copy of the Political Action Manual by calling the UUP main office.

Q: Where can I find information on my state representatives?

The UUP Legislation Department can assist you with information on your state representatives. We maintain a legislative database with local and Albany addresses and telephone numbers for all the members of the New York State Legislature. To contact your representatives, you may use the UUP Web site(www.uupinfo.org). Click on Call to Action. You can then follow the simple directions on the screen to fax letters to representatives or the governor regarding a number of issues relevant to UUP members. You simply type in your zip code and select the letters relevant to higher education.

Q: How else could I contact my representative?

One of the best ways to contact your representatives is through the State Assembly, State Senate or Congressional Web sites. The Assembly and Senate both have an online version of their directories(www.assembly.state.ny.us)(https://www.nysenate.gov/senators-committees). If you know the name of the legislator you wish to contact, you may click on his or her name and you will see his or her district, a bio, committee assignments and other important information. To contact your local member of the U.S. Congress, you may visit(www.senate.gov) or (www.house.gov). Some members of Congress have Web pages, while others have only a directory listing.

Q: How do I get a copy of pending legislation in New York State?

For information on bills in the New York State Legislature, you can call the Legislation Department, which has access to this information through the New York State Bill Search. You can also check the Assembly and State Senate Web sites. For Congressional legislation, both the House and Senate have links for researching bills on their Web sites. You may also use the Web site Thomas for national legislative information, which gives you access to the Congressional Record and other congressional information(thomas.loc.gov).

Membership

Q: How do I join UUP?

Click here to sign up online now!

To be eligible to join UUP, you must be an employee of the State University of New York and belong to the Professional Services Negotiating Unit (PSNU, also called the `08 Bargaining Unit). Click on the links below to download a union membership application. Fill it out and sign it. The application cannot be processed without your signature.

You can mail it or fax the application to UUP. UUP’s fax number is (518) 640-6698. The union’s mailing address is: United University Professions, P.O. Box 15143, Albany, NY 12112-5143.

Click here for an Active Membership Application (in PDF format)

Click here for a Retiree Membership Application (in PDF format)

Click here for Active Membership while on Leave Without Pay (in PDF format)

Moving? Click here for a Change of Address Form (in writable PDF format)

 

The above FAQs are compiled from individual webpages listed on this site and www.uupinfo.org