Dear UCHC-AAUP members,

 We need your help! Our Union is looking for members who are willing to get involved by running for elected office. This is a tremendous opportunity to make a real impact on the quality of life of our faculty. The union’s elected officers work with the Executive Director and office staff to set union priorities, negotiate and enforce contracts, represent and advocate for members, work with UConn Health administration and state officials, and much more. No experience is needed, just energy and a desire to get involved. A variety of viewpoints and perspectives are needed so the union can better reflect the diversity of our membership.

Please step up and make your voices heard! Nominate yourself or one of your colleagues by contacting David Gregorio, chair of the Elections Committee, by May 15, 2015. The elections committee will reach out to potential candidates and help with the process. Membership will meet May 21, 2015 at 5 pm in the Patterson Auditorium to discuss candidates, and the election will be held at the end of May. Terms of office will begin July 1, 2015. Note that current elected officers are eligible to run for re-election.

Below are descriptions of our offices:

President (Vice President to fill)

Term: 2 years

Time Commitment: 10-40 hours a month

Job Description: According to the UCHC-AAUP Bylaws, the President is responsible for “executive responsibility of all chapter activities.” He or she also “carries out the policies and decisions of the Executive Council.” The UCHC-AAUP President in many ways is the “face” of the union, and works closely with Executive Director and Office Administrator (employees of the union) to accomplish these objectives. A successful candidate should have an even temperament, a strong knowledge of UCHC-AAUP functions, and be a gifted problem solver. Most importantly, the union seeks a leader with the passion to better the work life of his or her colleagues. Attendance at regular meetings with the Executive Council, Collective Bargaining Council, and with senior UCHC-AAUP officials is mandatory. Knowledge of advocacy, negotiation, and labor relations is helpful, but not required.

Vice-President (OPEN)

Term: 4 years (2 years as Vice-President, 2 years as President)

Time Commitment: 10-20 hours a month

(seat currently held by Santhanam Lakshminarayanan (Laks)) 

Job Description: The Vice-President is President-Elect and assumes the office of President after his or her term is finished. The Vice-President should have the same knowledge, skills, and abilities as the President and be able to perform such duties in the President’s absence. Most importantly, the union seeks a leader with the passion to better the work life of his or her colleagues.  Attendance at regular meetings with the Executive Council, Collective Bargaining Council, and with senior UCHC-AAUP officials is mandatory. Knowledge of advocacy, negotiation, and labor relations is helpful, but not required.

Secretary/Treasurer (OPEN)

Term: 2 years

Time Commitment: 10-20 hours a month

(seat currently held by Ann Cowan)

Job Description: The Secretary/Treasurer has several duties. First, he or she is the keeper of minutes for the Executive Council, Collective Bargaining Council, and chapter meetings. In addition, this officer oversees the keeping of records, which is particularly important in light of the chapter’s annual audit and tax return. The Secretary/Treasurer is also the keeper of accounts with responsibility for receipt and deposit of all monies. He or she prepares an annual budget, which is presented to the membership for approval. Most importantly, the union seeks a leader with the passion to better the work life of his or her colleagues. Attendance at regular meetings with the Executive Council, Collective Bargaining Council, and with senior UCHC-AAUP officials is mandatory. Knowledge of accounting, advocacy, negotiation, and labor relations is helpful, but not required.

Executive Council (4 positions OPEN)

Term: 2 years

Time Commitment: 2-6 hours a month

Job Description:

The Executive Council is the governing body of the faculty’s labor union. Members discuss and vote upon matters related to the administration of the union, as well of concern to the faculty as a whole. The Executive Council consists of the elected officers of the Chapter, two representatives of each of the three constituencies: Basic Sciences, Dental, and Medical, and two representatives elected At-large. Meetings occur every 2 to 4 weeks to oversee union operations and set strategic priorities in either the morning or evening. Experience serving on committees or other organizational governing bodies is helpful, but not required. Most importantly, the union seeks a leader with the passion to better the work life of his or her colleagues.

Current Open positions:

At-large representative (seat currently held by Doug Oliver)

Medical/basic science representative (seat currently held by John Carson)

Medical/clinical representative (seat currently held by Rebecca Andrews)

Dental representative (seat currently held by Jon Goldberg)

According to our Chapter Constitution:

Choice of affiliation with one of the three voting constituencies is left up to the member, but a member may only vote in one constituency per election. Chapter members should have indicated their constituency affiliation upon joining the Chapter and the Executive Council has records of member affiliations.  

Candidates for election may be nominated by petition of at least ten Chapter members presented to the Chair of the Elections Committee by a date determined by the Committee. 

Elections shall be carried out prior to June 1 each year, with terms of service to commence on July 1.

 

Please direct any question to current elected representatives, or to members of the Elections Committee:

David Gregorio (chair)

Steve Angus

Jon Goldberg

Steve Schensul

Howard Tennen