American Federation of Teachers

“United university professions (uup or "the union") has four classes of membership within its organization:(a) the first class of membership is the regular membership which is open to employees in the state university of new york and in such other higher education units in the state of new york as shall be determined by the delegate assembly. The regular membership may vote on the ratification of the contract between uup and the state of new york. At the chapter level: the class of regular membership may participate in elections at the chapter level to elect the chapter officers and the chapter delegates to serve at the statewide level. At the statewide level: the class of regular membership who were elected to serve as delegates at the statewide level may participate in elections at the statewide level. These elections include those of statewide officers and the statewide executive board. These delegates may also run for a statewide elected position. As delegates, they also vote on major uup policy decisions affecting the entire organization as recommended by the executive board. (b) the second class of membership is the special membership. These members include either retired or sustaining members. Retired membership is open to any person who has retired from active service while a regular member of uup. Retired members may vote and also run for office. Sustaining members may vote, but may not hold office at the chapter level or the statewide level. Sustaining membership is open to any person who has been retrenched or to any person who has been involuntarily terminated and has litigation, grievance, or other, similar proceedings in progress, such membership to terminate upon reinstatement in the negotiating unit or resolution of such litigation or other proceedings, and to be limited to the period of litigation of a three-year term, which is longer. (c) the third class of membership is the associate membership. Associate membership is open to any person not eligible for regular or special membership. Associate membership shall be open to any person not eligible for regular or special membership who is employed in a non-managerial position in an institution of higher education where no bargaining unit exists, or where the bargaining agent is not affiliated with nysut and its affiliated bodies and there is no local so affiliated in the bargaining unit; or who is employed or self-employed in an occupation or profession, including but not limited to research, librarianship, instruction, counseling, consulting, or other professional activity whose elements are substantially equivalent to those of positions in bargaining units represented by uup; or who has retired from such position, occupation, or profession and is not eligible for retired or other membership in another local affiliated with nysut and its affiliated bodies; or who is the surviving spouse or equivalent of a deceased member of uup; provided, however that application for associate membership shall be made according to procedures adopted by the executive board; and further provided, that each such application shall be subject to approval by the executive board; and further provided, that while associate members may attend meetings of an appropriate chapter of uup and participate in activities not otherwise prohibited by provisions of the uup constitution, they shall not be counted as members for purposes of representation, financial allocations, or other union matters; and further provided, that associate members shall be eligible to participate in benefits programs offered by the union or its affiliates, except where the conditions for offering such benefits do not permit such participation. Associate members may not vote in any union election nor may they hold elective office at the chapter or statewide level. (d) the fourth class of membership is the honorary membership. This membership may be granted to such persons as the executive board or the delegate assembl”

“The classes that may vote and hold office are the regular membership and the special membership. Associate members and honorary members have no right to vote.”

“The delegate assembly is the legislative and policy-forming body of united university professions. Except for matters decided by referendum, final authority in the union shall rest in the delegate assembly, and in the case of matters decided by referendum, the delegate assembly may not take up such matter at a delegate assembly until the third regular meeting succeeding the referendum.”

“The director of finance receives the draft 990 from the auditor and reviews the form. The draft 990 is then sent to the board president and secretary/treasurer for review. The draft 990 is then sent to the audit committee for review. Any questions are addressed with the director of finance. The final approved form 990 is presented and reviewed with the executive board by the auditors. The 990 is filed once all questions have been addressed and all signatures obtained.”

“The organization regularly and consistently monitors compliance with the conflict of interest policy by requiring board members to annually acknowledge they have read the policy & to disclose whether or not they have any conflicts and if so, to disclose the conflicts.”

“The process for reviewing the president & other officers' salaries included the review and approval of the finance committee and is documented in the meeting minutes. In addition, an officer compensation sub-committee has been established and reviews the process on a periodic basis. The compensation structure of uup is as follows: uup pays all officers a stipend, and some officers a living allowance and a pension payment. All of these items are reported on uup's form w-2. The officers are also paid a salary and non-taxable benefits by the state university of new york (suny). The salaries paid by suny are reported on a w-2 from ny state. Uup reimburses ny state the entire suny salary and non-taxable benefits for those individuals because their time is spent on uup-related business matters. Ny state is an unrelated party to uup; however, since uup reimburses ny state for the entire suny salary, the suny salary is treated as having been paid by uup for 990 purposes. Column d of part vii of the 990 contains the total of the officers forms w-2 from both uup & ny state. Column f of part vii of the 990 contains the total non-taxable benefits paid by ny state.”

“All documents are maintained in the office for inspection and review.”

“The union has not changed its oversight process during the tax year.”