Robert Compton

Associate Professor

Department of Political Science
State University of New York at Oneonta

Oneonta, NY 13820

(607) 436-3048

Email: comptorw@oneonta.edu

Vice President for Academics

Oneonta Chapter, United University Professions

www.uupinof.org

PROPOSAL FOR PRESENTATION AT THE NATIONAL TERTIARY EDUCATION STAFF UNION

SECOND INDUSTRY LEVEL AND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE, DURBAN, KWAZULU-NATAL (JANUARY 13-15, 2008)

TOPIC:

“Comparative Analysis of Strengths, Weaknesses, and Opportunities for US and South African Tertiary Sector Unions: the Oneonta Model”

This presentation examines the history and current political, academic, and labour union climate for building and rebuilding powerful organizations to advance workers rights and effect political change. Recognizing the need for continuity and change how is the union to balance these needs without alienating members? In order to build a successful organization, it is critical to build a union consciousness on campuses, appeal to the strongest academics and professionals, and engage in a youth movement. Without a doubt the union movement is experiencing a sustained period of decline and decay in the US. In South Africa, many of the gains sought for employees by COSATU have not been realized. In sum both hostile environments impede the development of union solidarity.

Through dedicated leadership and increased involvement of a younger generation of scholars and professionals, significant progress in the area of organization building has taken place at the State University of New York at Oneonta. How was this accomplished? What is our notion of a successful unionist? How do we attract new members attracted to the union and could this harbinger greater things for all of United University Professions (UUP) locals as the organization seeks to rebuild itself? Lastly, is there anything that activists in South Africa could employ from the “Oneonta model” that could move its union organizations forward?