IF YOU NEED HELP
If you need union representation or would like help with any work related issue you can speak with your area steward or contact UCATS for help from one of our experienced organizers:
Email: info@ucats3882.org (recommended)
Telephone: 646-602-1485
*All calls are confidential. No action is taken on your behalf without your consent.
Bulletin Board
NYU Contract Faculty Union Rally - 10/31, 1:00 PM
Thursday, October 31, 1:00 PM
UCATS will rally with the NYU Contract Faculty Union
Why? Last spring, nearly 1000 full-time non-tenure track faculty at NYU voted by an overwhelming margin of 89% in favor of unionizing. Now, CFU members are preparing to start bargaining with the NYU administration for a strong first contract. Join CFU members, UCATS and the NYU community, for a rally in Schwartz Plaza (next to Bobst Library) on campus 10/31 at 1pm to kick-off negotiations, and highlight the many reasons why contract faculty need a union — including gender pay equity, stronger rights for international faculty and parents, and a voice to win fair recognition for their contribution to NYU’s education mission.
CFU members supported UCATS when we were bargaining our contract last year and now its time for all of us return the favor.
NYU Security Guards Reach Tentative Agreement
October 28, 2024:
Congratulations to NYU Security Guards Local 1 for reaching a tentative agreement with NYU last week that includes raises and benefit enhancements in line with what we negotiated last year as well as some changes to work rules specific to their members!
Contract Distribution Events
Hard copies of the UCATS contract that was ratified in January are now available. Shop stewards have been hosting distribution events in the areas they represent throughout September and October. If you would like to host an event in your area email UCATS at info@ucats3882.org. The contract can also be downloaded from our website.
FREE! Identity Theft Support from AFT
In the event you experience identity theft or resulting fraud, AFT members can receive a free 60-minute consultation with a professional fraud resolution specialist. Services include learning how to restore your identity and good credit, protect yourself against further fraud or loss, and communicate with creditors and collection agencies. Other features include a free emergency response kit, assistance with the steps for disputing fraudulent debts, a free initial consult with an attorney and 25 percent off attorney’s customary fees or hourly rates. Call 866-875-8385 for assistance. Have your AFT Member ID ready when you call.
UCATS members are also members of our national union the American Federation of Teachers. If you don’t know your AFT Member ID you can get it by calling our state union, New York State United Teachers at 1-800-342-9810; press 0 to skip the recording and then ask to be connected to the membership department.
Raise 2024
On September 1, 2024 all UCATS members received a 3.75% raise.
This is the 2nd raise in the contract we negotiated with NYU last year and follows a 5.75% raise that was implemented March 8, 2024 which was retroactive to September 1, 2023. Starting pay rates for all UCATS members hired after September 1, 2024 also increased 3.75% on a base wage that already included the 5.75% raise of 2023.
OCT. 14, 2024-Membership Meeting, Delegate Election
UCATS Membership Meeting/Notice of Election
Monday, October 14, 2024
5:30 pm, via Zoom
Advance registration required to receive Zoom link
For Zoom link email stephen.ucats3882@gmail.com
The business of the meeting will include nominating and electing our Delegates to the 2025 New York State United Teachers Representative Assembly (RA)
The RA will be in-person on Friday-Saturday, May 2-3, 2025, in Rochester, NY; you will need to travel to Rochester on Thursday, May 1. Delegates make their own travel/hotel arrangements and will be reimbursed the week following the RA.
The RA is a governance event where delegates from NYSUT locals determine the priorities of NYSUT for the coming year. The RA will adjourn at about 6 pm on Saturday.
Delegates must be able to commit to attending the entire RA.
Delegate Election Procedures
Election procedures:
►All UCATS members are eligible to make nominations, and to be nominated themselves, for Delegate positions.
►There are 8 Delegate positions available.
►Nominations will only be accepted at the meeting.
►If there are 8 or fewer nominees the UCATS secretary shall cast one vote for all nominees and they will be elected.
►If there are more than 8 nominees ballots will be circulated by email to those members in attendance and the ballots will be returned by 4 pm Thursday, October 17 and will be tabulated at that time. The 8 nominees with the most votes will be Delegates.
►If you have questions about being a Delegate, email UCATS President Stephen Rechner at stephen.ucats3882@gmail.com
►You must register in advance to receive the Zoom link for the October 14 meeting by emailing UCATS at stephen.ucats3882@gmail.com.
NEW BENEFIT! - Bright Horizons Enhanced Family Supports
Bright Horizons Enhanced Family Supports is a new benefits we negotiated in our new contract to help members with childcare, eldercare and more! Use THIS LINK to go directly to the NYU web page with a full description of benefits.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT
between
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
and
UNION OF CLERICAL, ADMINISTRATIVE AND TECHNICAL STAFF AT NYU
LOCAL 3882, NYSUT, AFT, NEA, AFL-CIO
November 1, 2023 – October 31, 2029
Appendix D courses are non-credit courses for which NYU has agreed to reimburse our members for the usual 20% copayment upon completion of the course.Appendix D courses are updated each semester based on course availability and member requests.
UCATS Newsletter Sign Up
Do not use your NYU email address
What every member needs to know.
Officers
Stephen Rechner
President
For entire leadership team please click on button below.
Shop Stewards and Officers are elected every two years to form our Executive Council (EC). The EC is the governing body of UCATS and meets once a month on the 2nd Monday of each month. The current term runs from May 1, 2021 to April 30, 2022, however, because our Collective Bargaining Agreement with NYU expires October 31, 2023 and we begin bargaining team training in February, the EC recently voted to hold early elections this September so that our team is in place by January 2023.
The election process begins with an announcement of the election to our members and the publication of the responsibilities of council members. That will be followed by a membership meeting where members nominate the people they wish to represent them on the EC. An Election Committee will follow up with each nominee to confirm that they wish to serve on the council if elected.
The election will conclude in December. All UCATS members are eligible to run for shop steward positions; members running for officer positions must be employed by NYU for at least 6 months. Notice of meetings/elections will be posted to our website, sent by email to members on our elist, and sent by USPS mail to members not on our elist.
UCATS History of Achievement
In 1979 clerical and technical workers at NYU voted to form their own union. We were chartered by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) as The United Staff Association at NYU, Local 3882. In 2003, we rebranded ourselves as The Union of Clerical, Administrative & Technical Staff at NYU – UCATS, Local 3882. Since 1979, we have steadily improved the wages, benefits and working conditions for all UCATS members.
Our success is due to the participation, strength and resolve of UCATS members. Our rights, protections, wages and benefits are spelled out in our Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) often referred to as the union contract. Unlike personnel policy manuals or employee handbooks, our CBA is legally enforceable because it is a contract.
UCATS has successfully negotiated wage increases for members every year since 1979 while there have been a number of years when non-union NYU employees have received no raise at all.
The UCATS CBA guarantees that all members receive equal pay for equal work. In unionized workplaces, women earn on average 23.8% more, Black workers earn 26% more and Latino workers earn 39.2% more than in non-unionized workplaces. Even brand-new employees hired into UCATS Local 3882-represented positions earn thousands of dollars more each year because the starting salaries include every raise UCATS has negotiated since it was formed in 1979.
UCATS members have protection from unjust discipline, discharge, and arbitrary treatment – something non-union workers never have.
UCATS Local 3882 is run by the members―you and your coworkers. Your shop stewards, officers, and even the president of the UCATS, are NYU employees like yourself who volunteer their free time to work for you. Your UCATS elected leaders know first-hand what it is like to work for NYU. For many years now, we also have hired professional staff to assist us in representing members in grievances, issues of concern, contract bargaining and the day-to-day administration of the Local.
All the rights, wages and benefits in our CBA weren’t given to us by NYU out of kindness. Everything was won at the negotiating table by the determination, strength, and participation of UCATS members like you.
What does a union do for its members?
Being a part of a union and having a union contract provides all members with legally enforceable rights, protections, wages, and benefits. A union is also your trusted source for accurate information about everything related to your employment.
Without a union:
– there is no protection from unfair discipline, discharge or arbitrary treatment:
– the boss can pay one worker less than another for doing the same work;
– wages, annual wage increases and benefits are not guaranteed;
– you have to trust the boss for information about your rights and benefits.
UCATS members have 51 pages of rights, protections, and guaranteed wages and benefits in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). In addition, UCATS hires professional staff who help us negotiate the CBA and who support and represent members with enforcing our contractual rights and addressing workplace concerns.
Why is it important for me to be a member of UCATS?
Our union is as strong as our membership.
The union is our organization – the 1300 clerical and technical employees at NYU are UCATS. As a union, we have the legal right to negotiate with NYU over our wages, benefits and working conditions.
By working and standing together, we are able to make significant gains when we negotiate our Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) periodically and when we are addressing issues of concern in the workplace.
UCATS members democratically decide on bargaining priorities; elect members to serve as our officers, stewards, and bargaining team members; vote on contracts, and make all the major decisions about our union.
Union Dues: How much are they and why do we pay them?
UCATS Member Dues:
One week of your base wage x .0625 per month, deducted from the first paycheck of the month.
Unions are self-funded organizations. Without all of us paying union dues, we couldn’t have our own organization.
Union dues pay for the professional staff we hire to oversee the daily business of our union and who represent members in grievances and investigatory meetings.
Dues also pay for our union office, telephones, computers, office equipment and supplies in the UCATS office, the cost of arbitrations to enforce our rights, the fees for bookkeeping and required annual audits; and much more.
Each year UCATS conducts an annual audit as required by our national union, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), which is sent to each member when completed.
There is a huge union advantage. Union employees on average earn 11.2% more than non-union employees. All 51 pages in our CBA reflect all the things we have gained as a result of having our union since 1979.
Why am I getting mail from NYSUT/AFT/NEA/AFL-CIO?
As a member of UCATS, you are also a member of:
NYSUT – New York State United Teachers
AFT – American Federation of Teachers
NEA – National Education Association
AFL-CIO – American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations.
What this means for you is that you can take advantage of the benefits each of these affiliates offer to their members. Links to their member benefits websites are in the Member Benefits section of our website. What these organizations do for our leadership team is they provide us with training and assistance when issues arise that are beyond the scope of our
expertise.
Why should I sign up for UCATS email?
Email is the fastest and most efficient means we have to communicate with all members. Many of our communications, such as notices of membership meeting and elections, we are required by law to send to every UCATS member (the Landrum-Griffin Law). We also use email to alert members to new benefits when they are offered by NYSUT/AFT/NEA/AFL-CIO. Email saves time and trees.
MEMBER BENEFITS
The benefits you receive from your employment at NYU are negotiated for you by UCATS and are articulated in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
As a member of UCATS, however, you are also a member of New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), the American Federation of teachers (AFT), the National Education Association (NEA), and the AFL-CIO. Each of these labor federations has a member benefits website and as a UCATS member you are entitled to take advantage of the benefits they offer.
- NYSUT Member Benefits
- AFT Member Benefits
- NEA Member Benefits
- AFL-CIO Member Benefits
- FREE Life Insurance from NEA
- NYU $50,000 Life Insurance Plan Description
- NYU $50,000 Life Insurance Claim Form
- NYU $50.000 Life Insurance Beneficiary Designation Form
- NYU Planning for Retirement
In some cases there may be a notation that a particular benefit is not available to members in New York State; all that means is that a comparable or better version of that benefit is available from NYSUT Member Benefits. For most NYSUT/AFT/NEA benefits you will need your NYSUT member ID number which is on your NYSUT Membership card. If you don’t have your NYSUT membership card you can call NYSUT toll-free at 800-342-9810; press 0 for the operator and ask to be connected to the Membership Records Department.
RIGHT NOW! – You should click the FREE Life Insurance from NEA and name your beneficiary to ensure a prompt payout in the event of your death.
PLANNING FOR RETIREMENT
Retirement Checklist
NYU Retirement Benefits Guide document
NYU’s Planning for Retirement webpage has information on all of your benefits as an NYU retiree, including RETIREE HEALTH INSURANCE.
Be sure to click on the MORE BENEFITS link.
Here are some retiree benefits you may not be aware of:
VSP Retiree Discount Vision Plan – FREE for retirees
Health Advocate – FREE for retirees
$30,000 Basic Life Insurance – FREE for retirees
MetLife Dental for retirees – Rates vary depending on where you live.
Currently (2020) $24.50-$34.75 monthly.
UNION NEGOTIATED NYU STAFF PENSION PLAN
The Summary Plan Description for the NYU Staff Pension Plan will answer most questions about our defined benefit pension plan;
Aon is the administrator of the NYU Staff Pension Plan. On their website you can estimate your pension and learn how to apply for your pension when you are ready to retire.
How is my union-negotiated NYU Staff Pension calculated?
The math for determining your union-negotiated defined benefit pension can be found on page 15 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Article 20. If, having applied for your pension, you believe that Aon has miscalculated your benefit, you should first contact Aon for an explanation/resolution. If they do not explain/resolve the issue to your satisfaction then you should contact PeopleLink, NYU’s benefits and payroll service center, at askpeoplelink@nyu.edu or 212-992-5465.
Effective November 1, 2024:
US Bank will become the payor of pension benefits for the NYU Staff Pension Plan (SPP). This change is the result of the current pension benefit payor, Vanguard, discontinuing its pension payment services at the end of 2024.
Aon will remain the SPP pension plan administrator.
Individuals receiving monthly pension payments will receive two notifications:
1. From Aon/NYU: A letter will be sent at the end of September advising pensioners of the change in payor. The form of benefit payment previously elected by the pensioners (direct deposit, check, etc.) will continue with US Bank. Pensioners will be provided with phone numbers to call AON or NYU if they have questions, and will be advised that they will receive a direct communication from US Bank in the next few weeks.
2. From US Bank: A letter will be sent in mid-October by US Bank introducing themselves to pensioners as their new pension paying agent. Pensioners will be provided with an FAQ document, instructions on how to register on US Bank’s online portal, as well as a Retirement Services hotline number they can call with questions.
What happens if I am vested in the NYU Staff Pension Plan but leave NYU before retirement age?
You are vested if you have worked at NYU at least 5 years. Your participation in the Plan ends on your last day of employment. Vested balances below $5,000 will be distributed as a lump sum payment. You may elect lump sum payment if the present value of your benefit is more than $5,000 but less than $50,000. It is recommended that you seek professional tax advice before receiving a distribution. For more information or to request a distribution, contact Aon at 855-632-5016. If the present value is greater than $50,000 you will have to wait until retirement age and apply to receive your pension then; see the Summary Plan Description for details when you can apply.
TIAA-CREF
If you are enrolled in the TIAA-CREF Supplemental Tax Deferred Annuity Plan, contact NYU Retirement Plans Helpline at TIAA at 844-NYU-TIAA (844-698-8422) to learn how to start receiving withdrawals in retirement. You will probably want to schedule an appointment with a TIAA-CREF advisor.
SOCIAL SECURITY/MEDICARE:
CLICK HERE to apply for Social Security Retirement benefits and Medicare.
Location
UCATS, Local 3882
636 Broadway, Room 520
New York, NY 10012
Tel.: 646-602-1485
Fax: 646-602-9554
Email: info@ucats3882.org
