Aug. 10, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:
Kathryn Morton, or 717-236-7486
On the docket of this week’s negotiations sessions between the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and the union representing Pennsylvania’s state-owned universities’ faculties and coaches: tenure, promotions, evaluations, and other non-economic matters.
Negotiators met at Indiana University of Pennsylvania for the two-day contract discussion that resulted in several minor agreements of concern to both parties.
“While it is always good to make progress, we don’t want anyone to have too many expectations,” said Dr. Jamie Martin, vice president of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties and chair of APSCUF’s negotiations team. “We have been working under an expired contract for 407 days and still have not begun to discuss anything related to economics. It is exasperating.”
APSCUF’s frustration comes on the heels of tentative multi-year contract agreements between the Commonwealth and American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Council 13 and with Service Employees International Union 668, both of which have members employed by the State System. Other statewide public-sector unions signed one-year deals that included step increases last year. APSCUF’s contract expired June 30, 2015, and there has not been any successor agreement.
“Without serious progress on significant issues surrounding the quality of education we provide, there is no reason for us to adjust our existing plans,” APSCUF President Dr. Kenneth M. Mash said.
APSCUF’s emergency legislative assembly conference call remains on the calendar for Aug. 25. On that call, delegates from all 14 campuses in the State System will decide whether full APSCUF faculty members will take a strike-authorization vote on their campuses.
Negotiations are slated to continue Aug. 25–26, and classes will begin Aug. 29.
APSCUF represents about 5,500 faculty and coaches at the State System universities: Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock, and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania.