(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – Faculty employed at Buffalo’s D’Youville University, who are represented by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), got a major boost Monday (October 2nd) when a high-profile D’Youville Alum - New York State Senator Tim Kennedy - joined Union Members during a noontime rally that took place in front of the Koessler Administration Building.

AAUP Local 6780 represents around 120 Members - Faculty, Clinicians and Librarians, at D’Youville who’ve gone 760 days without a new contract.  And, D’Youville’s Union-represented Workers haven’t seen a raise in a very long time, according to Local President Brandon Absher, who encouraged his Union Brothers and Sisters by telling them at the rally: “‘When we stand together, we win together.’”

And to the delight of those D’Youville Unionists, a number of representatives from other Unions across Buffalo and Western New York were with them to show their solidarity, including the Buffalo Teachers Federation, the Communications Workers of America (CWA), the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU), and United University Professions (UUP), as well as the United Auto Workers (UAW). 

Western New York AFL-CIO Labor Federation (WNYALF) President Peter DeJesus and Buffalo AFL-CIO Central Labor Council President Denise Abbott and former WNYALF President Richard Lipsitz were also in attendance.

But for the first time since AAUP began its public campaign to call out D’Youville for its lack of movement on negotiating a new contract and for treating its Employees as it has, the Union picked up important backing from a high-profile D’Youville Alum - Senator Kennedy (Pictured Below/WNYLaborToday.com Photos), whose Mother, Sister and Great Aunt also attended D’Youville.

“This is ‘personally important for me.’  I’m an Alumni ‘and I know the hard work you do.’  ‘You are the ones who make D’Youville great and that needs to be reflected in your wages and benefits.’  ‘I will stand with you and be with you until the end,’” Kennedy told those who had assembled at the rally, drawing a large round of applause. 

WNYALF President DeJesus, whose Labor Federation represents 140 Public and Private Sector Unions that combine to represent more than 140,000 Union Workers across Western New York, told those at the rally: “‘You do not stand alone.’  ‘This is about solidarity.’  ‘You have (our) support.’”

Also addressing the rally was New York State Conference AAUP President Mary Rose Kubal, a Political Science Professor at St. Bonaventure University, who said: “We are ‘concerned about your stalled negotiations.’  ‘We are not part of the global elite.’  ‘We value knowledge and skills and that has gotten us in debt.’  ‘We need to pay things like our mortgage and some are struggling, but we love what we do.’  ‘We can’t be the best when we are not paid a dignified wage.’  At the end of the day, ‘we want to be able to pay our bills.’  You have been without a contract for two years and three years without a raise.  ‘We want (D’Youville) to allow their faculty to focus on the job you do.’”

AAUP Local President Brandon Absher told WNYLaborToday.com before the start of the rally that a previous rally held by the Union at D’Youville had moved the needle and that the Administration had asked the Union to return to the bargaining table in mid-October.

While some progress had been made at previous bargaining sessions, “we’re still stuck on salaries,” Absher said. 

“A number of other items are still in the air, including medical,” he added.

But with Western New York Labor and Senator Kennedy standing with them, Absher said it has made a difference when it comes to moving that needle.

Also speaking at the rally was UAW Region 9 Assistant Director Ray Jensen, whose Union is attempting to negotiating a new contract with The Big Three and is currently conducting a Stand-Up Strike against the Automakers in many parts of the country (but not yet here in Western New York): “We’re on Strike ‘to help create a good Middle-Class wage.’  ‘I know you all would rather be inside, with your students, but you’re here because you have to pay your bills.’  ‘They say it takes a hero who comes in to save the day, but take a look around, real change will come by standing together.’”

WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: For More On This Labor News Story, Go To: ‘Has D’Youville Awakened A Sleeping Labor Giant?’ - An Array Of WNY Unions Join The American Association Of University Professors On The Picket Line ‘To Protest The Lack Of A New & Fair Contract Following More Than Two Years Of Negotiations’ - WNY Labor Today: Your On-Line Labor Newspaper, Bringing You Labor News From Across The Nation, New York State & Western New York