June 9, 2005

Dear UCE of FIT Member:

Recently, three of our members, one faculty and two staff, had disciplinary charges brought against them. In each case, a disciplinary committee was formed and charged with investigating the allegations thoroughly and then reporting its findings to President Brown, along with its recommendation (or recommendations should there be no agreement among the committee members) as to an appropriate response by the college. The recommendations could range from no action, if the charges were not substantiated, to any of a variety of penalties, ranging from a caution against a reoccurrence of the action to suspension with or without pay to a move to terminate the employee.

Whatever the committee recommendations, they remain merely that – recommendations – and the college President is free to accept, reject and/or modify them.

These three committees have completed their work and their reports have gone to President Brown. Contents of those reports, including their recommendations, remain confidential and at this time are known only by the committee and the President. For the first time in our collective memory, the President of FIT has chosen to move forward with a process stipulated in the NYS Tenure Law – that could result in the board of trustees stripping these long-term employees of tenure and terminating their employment at FIT.

We want all our members to know that we are well acquainted with the Tenure Law and will be following the cases carefully to ensure that each of these members receives due process. We are supporting our members in every way possible, from the moral support of frequent contact, conversations, advice and to the providing of legal counsel for their defense at their hearings.

These are trying times for these three individuals, and in such times we must, and will, show that Solidarity is not an empty catchphrase and that the officers and members of the UCE, and of our statewide union, NYSUT, stand with every union member.

Stay strong and stay united!

                                                                        In Solidarity,

                                                                        Juliette J. Romano

                                                                        President