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. The contingent membership shall extend from september 1 through august 31. Membership in good standing shall be maintained through payment of dues as defined in article iii, section 4.b.i.b. And shall be on a continuing basis throughout the membership year. (b) the second class of membership is the retired membership. Retired membership shall be open to any regular member in good standing who has retired from active service with a minimum of five continuous years of membership in good standing immediately preceding the date of retirement or continuous membership 30 days after the option of this amendment by the delegate assembly, whichever is less. If a member has less than five years of continuous bargaining unit employment the member must have continuous membership in good standing for the length of their employment in the bargaining unit or beginning 30 days after the adoption of this amendment, whichever is less. (c) the third class of membership is the sustaining membership. Sustaining membership shall be open to any person who has been retrenched or non-renewed or who has been involuntarily terminated for any reason and has litigation, grievance, or other, similar proceedings in progress. Sustaining membership terminates upon reinstatement in the negotiating unit or resolution of such litigation or other proceedings, and is limited to the period of litigation or a three-year term, whichever is longer. Sustaining members may vote but may not hold office at the chapter, local or affiliate levels. (d) the fourth class of membership is the honorary membership. Honorary membership, without vote or the right to hold office in the union, may be granted as the executive board or the delegate assembly may determine, in recognition of service or dedication to the purposes of this union as specified in article ii of the uup constitution.”

“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.”