Statement of Candidacy for Oneonta UUP Chapter President – Shirley A. Clark
As the current President of the Oneonta UUP Chapter, I have had the privilege of serving and representing our members in one of the largest higher education unions in the nation, which consists of more than 37,000 members. This role has provided me with a deep understanding of the importance of collective bargaining and advocacy, particularly as it pertains to improving the working conditions and compensation of our members. Throughout my tenure, I have worked relentlessly alongside my fellow Executive Board members to address issues critical to the well-being of our faculty and professional staff, focusing particularly on advocating for fair compensation. While we have made strides, I acknowledge that our work is far from over, and much remains to be done.
A significant challenge that continues to persist is the salary disparity between SUNY Oneonta and other peer institutions, particularly in key areas such as the humanities, sciences, and business. These discrepancies undermine the ability of SUNY Oneonta to remain competitive in attracting and retaining top-tier faculty and professional staff. It is crucial that we address these imbalances to ensure that SUNY Oneonta remains an attractive and sustainable workplace for high-caliber professionals. Without a robust and competitive compensation structure, we risk compromising the quality of education and services that our institution can offer to students and the broader community. I have worked tirelessly to advocate for improved salaries for our members and over the past year, I was able to secure an additional 0.5% increase on top of an already established 0.5%, ultimately resulting in a 1% salary increase for all staff. While this was an important step forward, it is just the beginning of the efforts required to ensure that our compensation reflects the valuable contributions of our faculty and staff. I remain committed to advancing the cause of fair pay and will continue to work vigorously on behalf of our members to achieve equitable salary structures.
Beyond compensation, I have also made it a priority to address other critical issues affecting our members. This past year, I focused on gathering data concerning the health and housing situations of SUNY employees residing in the rural Oneonta area. These issues, while often overlooked, have a significant impact on the quality of life and work-life balance of our members. I collected data through a survey to better understand the challenges our members face in these areas. After analyzing the data, I shared the findings with key stakeholders, including Senator Oberacker, Assembly Member Miller, and the Statewide Personnel office responsible for Benefits.
One of the most pressing concerns identified by our members is the escalating cost of medical care. An alarming 71% of respondents indicated that they have seen an increase in medical costs over the years, placing additional financial burdens on them and their families. The situation is further compounded by the shortage of mental health providers in our region, with 80% of respondents reporting a lack of accessible services in this critical area.
In addition to health-related concerns, affordable housing in the Oneonta area continues to be a significant challenge for our employees. Many of our staff struggle to find affordable non-student rental housing, exacerbating the difficulty of maintaining a reasonable work-life balance. This issue is particularly pronounced in rural areas, where housing availability is limited and prices continue to rise. As part of my ongoing advocacy, I have been working to bring attention to these concerns and engage with local stakeholders, as well as state representatives, to explore solutions to the housing crisis.
Another critical issue that has emerged is the erosion of dental care access for our members. Many employees covered by Delta Dental insurance have been notified that their dentists are no longer able to remain “participating” or “in-network” providers. This poses a significant problem for those who rely on in-network providers for affordable and quality dental care. I have made it a point to communicate this issue to the relevant parties, including Statewide Personnel and Delta Dental, and I will continue to work to ensure that our members have continued access to affordable dental care through in-network providers.
These concerns are not only personal issues but reflect broader systemic challenges that must be addressed to ensure the well-being and job satisfaction of our members. I am committed to collaborating with legislators, stakeholders, and relevant state agencies to find solutions to these ongoing challenges. This is an ongoing effort, and I will remain vigilant in advocating for policies and programs that address the needs of our members, ensuring that they are supported both in their professional roles and in their personal lives.
In addition to these efforts, I have also focused on fostering a sense of community within our chapter. Over the past year, we have hosted a variety of successful chapter meetings and events aimed at engaging our members and strengthening our collective voice. These initiatives have provided opportunities for members to connect, share experiences, and collaborate on important issues. I will continue to develop and promote programs that encourage active participation and bring our members together in support of common goals. It is essential that our chapter remains a vibrant, united force within the larger UUP organization, and I am committed to ensuring that our members feel supported, heard, and valued.
In conclusion, my work as President of the Oneonta UUP Chapter has been centered on addressing the critical issues facing our members—compensation, healthcare, housing, and dental care—while fostering a sense of community and engagement. There is still much to be done, but I remain dedicated to advocating for the fair treatment and well-being of our faculty and professional staff. Through continued collaboration with our members, state legislators, and other stakeholders, I am confident that we can continue to make progress toward a stronger, more sustainable future for SUNY Oneonta and its dedicated employees.
Jessie Simpauco-Oneonta UUP Chapter VP for Professionals- Candidate’s Statement:
To: All UUP Members,
My name is Jessie Simpauco, and I’m a candidate for the vice president of professionals position.
My goals as a VP for professionals are:
- Help increase member engagement using my skills in digital software and programming.
- Improve communication within our union to keep all our members informed, especially now that higher education and labor unions are facing unprecedented challenges and are in need of our collective support.
- I am committed to advocating for your rights, resolving workplace issues, and strengthening our UUP community.
In solidarity,
Jessie Simpauco- Oneonta UUP Chapter VP for Professionals
Bill Simons Candidate Statements:
Secretary and Academic Delegate
During the past four years, I have had the privilege of serving as UUP Oneonta Secretary and as an Academic Delegate. I humbly and respectfully ask for your vote to continue in those positions. My prior union service includes terms as President and Vice President for Academics. The core function of the Secretary is to inform members through published notes of the deliberations that take place during Labor-Management, Executive Board, and Chapter meetings. I have attempted to do so with thoroughness, accuracy, and fairness. To review those minutes, go to https://www.oneontauup.org/meeting-minutes and see the many viewing posts that those minutes have received. As Secretary, I sit on the Executive Board and at the Labor-Management table — taking a significant role in both; contribute a range of articles to UUP publications; and participate regularly in legislative advocacy. While secretary, I have taken the leadership in coordinating programs, including Vision for the Future and Student Classroom Engagement and Attendance: Confronting Disengagement and Absence, editing a special issue of The Sentinel, and organizing membership building and bonding activities, including staffing Saturday’s Bread and recruiting UUP river paddles to bring visibility to the importance of safeguarding our local waterways.
I am also an active and informed Academic Delegate, representing Oneonta in the primary decision-making body of State UUP, the Delegate Assembly. Through UUP-Date, I report back on the actions of the DA and the role of Oneonta in that process. At the DA, along with Ed Wesnofske, I have taken the leadership in the on-going campaign to enfranchise rank-and-file members in the election of State UUP officers. As appropriate, I am at the microphone during DA deliberations and vote with the interests of the Oneonta Chapter in mind. Moreover, through lateral networking at the DA, I have built Oneonta ties with several other chapters. I hope that you will consider my candidacies in casting your ballot.
My name is Rich Tyler and I am currently your Chapter Treasurer.
My duties are to pay the chapter’s bills, deposit the chapter’s income into our checking account, keep accurate financial records and submit them to the Statewide Finance Department for audit three times in each fiscal year, and to produce the chapter budget with the assistance of the chapter Finance Committee and the President.
I first became Treasurer in 2003 and served until 2007, when I retired and spent the next four years building a new house. In 2011, I ran again at the request of then President Bill Simons, and have served continuously to the present. I am now running for my tenth term.
I also have experience as a Treasurer outside of UUP, as I served for four years in that capacity with Habitat for Humanity of Otsego County.
In addition to my chapter service, I also serve on the statewide Finance Committee, and as chair of one of its sub-committees.
I have also served many years as a Delegate and am running for another term.
Thank you for your attention. I hope to serve you for another term.
Rich Tyler
Running for Officer of Contingents:
My name is Melissa F. Lavin. I am an associate professor in the Department of Sociology, Human Services, and Crime Studies. I am running to be the officer of contingents for the Oneonta Chapter because I know that money and power concentrate at the top levels. Contingents comprise the bottom of the power structure and are therefore more susceptible to impositions that rain from above. I see the officer of contingents as a buttress against those impositions. Since 2022, I have been advocating alongside the Union, my colleagues across the entire university, and select administrators, to return the campus to a standard 3/3 teaching load. Vote for me for these reasons, and because no one is running against me.
Jeri Anne Jerminario- Running For Officer for Retirees
Penina Kamina
I am seeking reelection as Academic Delegate. Statewide, I serve on Black and Latino Faculty/Staff Legislative Committee, the Future of Public Higher Education Committee, and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. In February 2025, I trained as a trainer of Level 1, Stick and Stones which is a NYSUT initiative to support understanding of implicit bias within self and in the workplace.
Locally, at Oneonta I chair our newly established UUP-DEI committee that has 4 members. In this 2024-2025 academic year the theme is Appreciating Differences, and we held two presentations with our UUP membership on September 12, 2024, and March 4, 2025. These were well attended and successful discussions led by UUP-DEI committee member John Chiang on Appreciating Diversity in Communication and Erin Francisco on Appreciating Different Religions.
I hope to continue the work in-progress plus engage in new initiatives.
Hello. My name is Loraine Tyler and I’ve been a member of UUP for over 50 years. My many roles include Vice President for Academics, Director of Social Events, Officer for Retirees. As retirees make up 20% of union membership, I’m interested in retiree issues. To that end, I served as our chapter’s first officer for retirees, I am the Southern District Rep planning informational brunches in the fall and spring for chapters in Binghamton, Cortland, Delhi, and Oneonta. I also serve on the NYSUT Board for retiree issues. State-wide activities include numerous terms as Academic Delegate, member and secretary of the Retired Member Governing Committee and participation in advocacy and phone banks. Thank you and I’d appreciate your vote for Academic Delegate.
Dear Colleagues,
My name is Ethan Fox and I am running for Professional Delegate!
As a relatively recent hire to our Information Technology Services department and someone newly engaged within our chapter, I am committed to hearing and uplifting the issues brought to me by our dedicated professional staff. I believe that every concern, no matter how small, deserves attention and action. We are the hands, minds, and voices whose work makes this institution hum, and I would like to do my part to be a force that makes sure those voices are heard, their issues brought to the fore and acted upon.
I hope to draw meaningful connections between the workplace concerns experienced by both professionals and faculty. I understand and acknowledge the stress and strain experienced by academic staff with unworkable teaching loads can and does spill over, thereby affecting the workplace lives of professional staff and creating a negative feedback loop that can provoke even MORE frustration and dissatisfaction, diminishing the quality of the education we can provide to the student body. By fostering a collaborative environment that emphasizes how our grievances align, I aim to bridge any gaps and create a unified front that advocates for the well-being and success of ALL members of our campus community.
My vision for our chapter is one of growth, inclusivity, and proactive engagement. I have been diligently working alongside our acting VP for Professionals, Jessie Simpauco, on improving our chapter’s communication channels, such that we can ensure that every member feels informed and knows how they can become more involved in our collective efforts towards justice and equity in the workplace. By improving platforms like our website and email blasts, we can create a stronger, more resilient chapter that is in-the-know and equipped to stand up for the rights and needs of its members.
We are at a pivotal moment for the American labor movement. The ideologically-motivated shock-and-awe campaign launched by the current administration against knowledge workers, teachers, and academia writ large cannot and should not be taken lying down, ESPECIALLY not by a public higher education union. Even in the absence of the moves being telegraphed by Trump and his allies, the conservative majority on the Supreme Court has proven itself antagonistic to labor, and has cases before it brought by massive corporations like SpaceX, Amazon, Trader Joe’s, and Starbucks that look to kneecap worker’s rights, challenging the constitutionality of the National Labor Review Board and the National Labor Relations Act. The elimination of these federal laws and bodies would thrust many unions back into the “law of the jungle”, their rights to organize protected by a threadbare patchwork of state labor regulations.
The time to stand up, make noise, and fight for positive change is NOW! Our response must be one of solidarity with our union brothers & sisters, militant resistance, and strategic action. We must advocate for local, state, and federal policies that protect our rights, promote equity, and ensure the sustainability of our professions and higher education broadly. By standing together, we can navigate these turbulent times and emerge stronger than ever before.
I humbly ask for your support and your vote!
In solidarity- Ethan Fox
Anthony Nichols Candidate Statement for Professional Delegate:
I have been a proud member of the SUNY Oneonta family since 2013, when I transferred into the Computer Science program. After graduating in 2015, I began my career as a Programmer Analyst in our ITS Enterprise Application Services department, where I have dedicated nearly a decade to supporting the various systems that support our campus community.
Over the years, I have witnessed significant growth and transformation within our campus and community, as well as our union’s relentless efforts to secure fair labor contracts and support its members’ needs. I realize now that I have often taken for granted the comfort and opportunities that SUNY Oneonta and UUP have afforded me. However, I am determined to no longer remain passive.
Currently, I serve on the UUP Communications Committee, leveraging my technological expertise to help foster an open and accessible communication network for our members. Last month, I joined my UUP colleagues at Advocacy Day, lobbying legislators to support our cause and fight for what is right—not just for our campus but for our entire SUNY family.
As a professional delegate, I am committed to channeling my energy into advocating for fair contracts and the working conditions necessary to maintain SUNY Oneonta as the inviting, empowering, and supportive environment it has been for me. Together, we can ensure that our campus continues to thrive and provide future generations with the same opportunities and experiences that have shaped my journey. I am ready to stand with you and fight for our collective future.
Achim Koeddermann- Write in Candidate for Academic Delegate