Below are
statements and photographs from the candidates in all contested races:
New School Unit Chairperson
NYU Unit Chairperson
NYU Unit Constitutional Convention Delegate
Candidates appear in the same order below as they will appear on the
ballots; the order was determined by random drawing. Candidates were not
required to submit statements or photographs. Statements were limited to 200
words, and are reprinted here unedited; statements longer than 200 words were
truncated after the 200th word.
New School Unit Chairperson
The
Unit Chairperson is the chief executive of the Unit, has a vote on the Joint
Council, and is a member at large of the Executive Committee. S/he is
responsible for coordinating the activities of the Unit's Joint Council
Delegates and Stewards, including representing members in grievances,
introducing new employees to the Local, assisting in organizing Membership
Meetings, rallies and other union events.
Andy
LaValle
As a
candidate for the post of New School Unit Chairperson, I will represent your
best interests with focus and a sense of mission; I will ensure your voice is
heard in every matter; and I will represent the union with a firmness and surety
of purpose in all negotiations. My bio follows:
Andrew C. LaValle is a
Director on Time Warner's Worldwide Recruitment & Executive Search team.
Andy has successfully recruited and negotiated senior level executive placements
within TimeWarner's Networks and Entertainment businesses including Turner
Broadcasting, HBO, New Line Cinema and Warner Brothers, and AOL.
Prior
to Time Warner, Andy spent six years with Christian & Timbers, an executive
search firm known for its technology clients, where he was a Director in the
Media and Entertainment practice. Andy led consulting engagements for a diverse
clientele including Sony, Scripps Networks, Creative Artists Agency, and
Samsung.
Andy began his career with CBS Records as a College Marketing
representative while obtaining his undergraduate degree in Photography, earning
a BFA from the Rochester Institute of Technology. He also holds an MA in Media
Studies from The New School for Social Research where he teaches a class in
Information Technology.
Marie
Dormuth
I've
taught at Parsons for 30 years. As a member of the Bargaining Committee, I have
been on the front lines spending hours in preparation, organizing and
face-to-face negotiations. I've worked hard to get people's jobs back and secure
settlements for faculty who were mistreated. Our successes raise the bar for all
adjuncts.
During the past three years, I've spoken personally to many of
you from Lang, Mannes, Milano, New School and Parsons, addressing your concerns
and finding solutions. I represented you in bargaining and held the line until a
president-setting contract was accepted increasing pay, benefits and job
security. Now, that we have a great contract, I will bring an intimate knowledge
of not only the contract language but also the intention and bargaining history
behind it.
At a critical time, when we cannot let the University go back
to business as usual, we need to have a Unit Chair willing to push for what we
fought so hard to obtain. If elected, I pledge to take a leadership role in
defending our rights under the contract and work with you to build a strong
union.
NYU Unit Chairperson
The
Unit Chairperson is the chief executive of the Unit, has a vote on the Joint
Council, and is a member at large of the Executive Committee. S/he is
responsible for coordinating the activities of the Unit's Joint Council
Delegates and Stewards, including representing members in grievances,
introducing new employees to the Local, assisting in organizing Membership
Meetings, rallies and other union events.
Chris
Rzonca
I have
been an adjunct in the General Studies Program and at various universities in
New York and New Jersey teaching Far Eastern Civilization for 16 years. In 2001
I returned to grad school and was a teaching assistant in the Expository Writing
Program and a member of GSOC where I had health insurance for the first time in
12 years, so I appreciate the benefits of union membership.
I became
active in ACT-UAW almost since its inception and volunteered in Fall 2005 to
serve as Acting Steward in SCPS, handling grievances, or violations of the
contract, for our members. It is very gratifying to help fellow union members
get what they deserve under the contract.
The Unit Chair position I am
seeking involves continuing to do what I have been doing - handling grievances -
but also advising and overseeing all stewards at NYU and recruiting new members
to build our union.
I have demonstrated my dedication and willingness to
work for our members in organizing this union and as acting steward. Now I ask
for your support so I can use my experience to continue working for you as Unit
Chair.
Arun
Chaudhary
When a
UAW representative spoke at the NYU Graduate Film Department's initial
unionization meeting, he stressed the changing nature of the partnership between
organized labor, higher education, and the needs of the part-time teacher. While
the AFT has traditionally concentrated on full-time teacher issues and relied
heavily on it's singular knowledge of the university work environment, the UAW
realized that they were in fact fighting for the physical needs of it's members.
The formation of Local 7902 centered on a willingness to learn from adjuncts and
to listen to their needs.
We must never assume that there are things
"everybody knows". It may seem the commonest sense that a faculty who feels
respected and secure are better equipped to teach, but many people still confuse
the interests of the union, the adjuncts, and the students.
I believe in
keeping the local local. NYU has a disproportionate number of adjuncts, which
have a distinct (and not always interchangeable) role within each department.
Members must be able to consult their chairman for more than just grievances.
I'd also like to be able to learn the unique solutions that already exist in
many departments and to apply them wherever possible. Please consult
NYU Unit Constitutional Convention
Regular Delegate
The
Constitutional Convention Regular Delegate will represent our Local at the UAW
34th Constitutional Convention, which begins on June 12, 2006.
Cate
Fallon
The UAW
Constitutional Convention is held every four years. The last time it met we were
an organizing campaign deep in the throes of a heated election. We won the
election with the support of the International Union and set about forming our
Local, bargaining a first contract and electing executive leadership.
As
an active member of the Local for the past four years, I participated in
negotiating our first contract. I have served as the Recording Secretary for the
past year and have participated in several Regional and National UAW conferences
as a representative of the Local.
As we look to the future, the UAW will
continue to develop new efforts in the area of academic organizing. It is more
important than ever, that ACT-UAW be a leader and a resource; that we play a
positive and proactive role during this Constitutional Convention. Because of my
experiences over the past four years I believe I can best represent our Local at
this Convention
We have accomplished much in the past four years for
ourselves, but now we need to join in the running of the International and
supporting the Regional Leadership who have given so much to us.
