Faculty vote to call strike at 14 state universities

HARRISBURG >> Faculty members at Pennsylvania’s 14 state universities have voted to call for a strike, but the union representing them said Monday they’ll keep working with the state system to resolve their disagreements, calling a strike a “last resort.”

Over 90 percent of union faculty members who voted favored authorizing a strike, the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties announced in a statement. Over 80 percent of union members participated in the vote, the union said.

“The vast majority of faculty clearly grasp the seriousness of the situation,” union president Kenneth Mash said in a statement. However, he added the faculty leaders will not set a strike date until they meet for negotiations at least once more, adding “a strike remains the last resort.”

The union represents about 5,500 faculty and coaches at Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock, and West Chester universities.

Coaches will vote on strike authorization on Wednesday and Thursday.

The union members are objecting to a number of the state system’s proposals including: having employees pay more toward the cost of their health insurance premiums; The system also wants temporary faculty to teach an additional course per semester, cuts to the lowest-paid faculty members’ salaries, and to no longer provide retiree health care coverage for future faculty members.

Kenn Marshall, a spokesman for the system, said Monday they are determined to stay at the table with the union to resolve their issues and “assure our students have uninterrupted access to a high-quality, affordable education.”

“While we understand the latest APCSUF vote moves the faculty union one step closer to being able to call a potential strike, we remain committed to bargaining with APSCUF to achieve an agreement that is fair to everyone.”