(Note:  The following information is derived from excerpts of the UUP 25 years and 30 years booklet.)

United University Professions  (UUP) was established in 1973 amid an American society caught up in a storm of change and turmoil.  The Watergate scandal had practically paralyzed the Nixon White House; Congress was considering impeachment resolutions; and Vice President Spiro Agnew had resigned in disgrace.  Civil and human rights issues had come to the forefront, sometimes violently.  Campus life was still churning from the Vietnam War and the political upheaval of the 1960's.

The State University of New York, established in 1948, was celebrating its 25th year; the Rockefeller administration in Albany was providing the bricks and mortar for an enviable university infrastructure; and New York's "baby boomers" continued to pour into the system, expecting academic opportunities greater than ever.

Academic and professional staff throughout the university faced considerable challenges.

Amid the chill of February, representatives of the Senate Professional Association and State University Federation of Teachers met to discuss a merger.  The warmth and greenery of May 1973 brought forth SUNY/United.  By the fall, the organization had become United University Professions.  In its first year, UUP demonstrated an impressive effectiveness in fighting for the rights of its membership, which had grown to 4000.

More than thirty years later, UUP is the nation's largest higher education union.  It continues to fight for individual members, for the common good, and for the enhancement of public higher education in New York State.  From Buffalo to Stony Brook, its commitment to "Working for You" had endured and inured to its members the benefits of collective bargaining, member services, political action, and community outreach.

 

Timeline:

1973	SUNY/United formed and later become UUP Lawrence Delucia becomes president Membership reaches 4000
1974	First UUP chapter presidents meeting
1975	Samuel Wakshull becomes president Membership increases to 5000
1976	UUP votes to disaffiliate with NEA
1977	Contract approved with raises and sabbatical leave Clifton Wharton is SUNY Chancellor
1978	PACE program launched Membership reaches 9000
1979	UUP wins representation election vs NEA affiliate
1980	"Save SUNY" campaign mobilizes thousands UUP constitution adopted at session addressed       by First Lady Rosalyn Carter
1981	Statewide higher education coalition develops Nuala Drescher becomes president
1982	Fight for three year contract brings 25 percent raise
1983	Senator Kenneth LaValle and Assemblyman      Mark Alan Siegel presented first "Friend of SUNY Award"
1984	UUP influence helps restore millions to SUNY budget Membership increases to 13000
1985	UUP Successfully fights Gov. Mario Cuomo      budget cuts to education
1986	Chancellor Wharton resigns
1987	UUP and SASU battle for tuition freeze John Reilly elected president
1988	UUP wins $3 million to fund salary disparities
1989	UUP master plan unveiled
1990	UUP/NYSUT/AFT radio show begins
1991	UUP helps avert massive layoffs
1992	UUP defends against major threats from extensive spending cuts
1993	William Scheuerman becomes president
1994	12-point UUP legislative program proposed
1995	Trustees release "Rethinking SUNY"
1996	Contracting out threatens tenure active members top 17500
1997	Massive demonstration against deepest-ever budget cuts
1998	UUP's monthly publication "The Voice" evolves to color "Operation Safeguard SUNY" presented
2000
2001	UUP surveys members on family-leave
2002	Former UUP Secretary Dottie Gutenkauf receives the      Albert Shanker Lifetime Achievement Award
2003
2004
2005
2006	UUP helps reverse Gov Pataki's higher ed budget vetoes