Candidate Statements for Election 2006-1

Below are statements and photographs from the candidates in all contested races:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 http://aschaudhary.blogspot.com/

The Constitutional Convention Regular Delegate will represent our Local at the UAW 34th Constitutional Convention, which begins on June 12, 2006.

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.