Students idled as state university profs hit the bricks
WEST CHESTER >> For the first time ever, professors across Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education went on strike Wednesday at 5 a.m., following 15 months of failed negotiations between their union and the state system.
Universities affected include Cheyney and West Chester.
“Our hope is that this is short,” said university professor and union spokesman Edward Lordan. “We clearly recognize the hardship this causes for everyone involved.”
Lordan also said the majority of students supported the faculty, and expressed his hope that the strike will get resolved quickly, so as not to delay ceremonies for students set to graduate in December.
“I think some are very concerned, especially those graduating in December. There’s a lot of pressure on them,” he said.
West Chester spokeswoman Nancy Gainer also expressed hope the strike would get resolved quickly, and said everyone is still keeping the students’ best interests at heart.
“The atmosphere on campus is focused on students,” she said. “Everyone wants what’s best for the students.”
According to Gainer, university staff has been going from classroom to classroom and dismissing students if their professor did not show up because of the strike.
Shortly after 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, West Chester’s interim president, Christopher Fiorentino, sent an email to all university students, informing them the university will remain open, including dining and resident halls.
He also wrote that movies would be shown free of charge in the student union’s theater from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
State system spokesman Kenn Marshall said the state system representatives hoped talks could progress enough to convince the union to at least postpone the strike, and that at the moment there are no further talks planned.
“We’re disappointed the faculty chose to go on strike,” Marshall said. “We need to get this over with, and as a system move forward.”
Kenneth Mash, union president, also said there are no plans at the moment to return to the negotiating table. And in reference to reaching an agreement Tuesday night he said, “we didn’t get all that close.”
Roughly 110,000 students across the state system will not be able to attend class unless their instructors decide to cross picket lines.
Reports of at least one professor crossing picket lines circulated early in the day Wednesday. One student on her way to class said she still had a test to take.
While unconfirmed, Lordan condemned any professors who may be crossing picket lines to teach, stating that doing so weakens the position of the union and potentially extends the strike.
“These professors are free to do what they want, but at the same time, their decision can prolong the strike,” he said. “I would say it’s a little frustrating when someone is going to get the benefits of this, but won’t participate.”
He also said he would be surprised if every university professor picketed and none crossed lines to teach.
Some students picketed alongside faculty at West Chester and many expressed support for them.
“It’s a shame that it’s led to a strike,” said senior Nicholas Angelina of Media. “But I’m glad that the professors are fighting for what they believe in.”
Others said they were enjoying the reprieve from classes.
“I’d be fine if they resolved it this weekend,” said junior Sam Caldwell. “But a fiveday weekend wouldn’t be that bad.”
Others attended class at their regular times and left after a university staff member dismissed them when their professor did not show up.
Gainer said some professors provided work and assignments to their students ahead of time so they could still continue with their education. Immediately leading up to the strike, and shortly after it went into effect, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf and other organizations began commenting on the situation.
“We must ensure our professors are treated fairly while recognizing PASSHE’s difficult financial situation due to years of underfunding,” Wolf wrote.
Wolf alluded to the 1990 strike at Temple University, and noted the damage it did to the university’s student population. Wolf said it took years for Temple to recover.
The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center released a statement shortly before 10 a.m. Wednesday about the strike.
“Given the importance of PASSHE universities not just to students and faculty members but to all of us in Pennsylvania, it is important that the labor dispute be settled quickly and fairly and in a way that protects academic programs so vital to the state,” the statement read in part. “But the long- term prospects for higher education in our state won’t be secure unless political leaders reverse the decline in funding for higher education and our future.”
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations expressed their support for the faculty.
Talks between the state system and union broke down Tuesday evening. The state system first released details pertaining to the breakdown in talks around 9 p.m. Tuesday night. Officials announced a lift to the media blackout to which both sides agreed.
The union quickly followed up in a broadcast produced with an iPhone and Facebook Live, where Mash spoke to several thousand viewers summarizing events shortly after the state system released details about their best offer to the union.
“Up until (Tuesday), it was a normal, beautiful fall semester,” said Jack Kinslow, an academic advisor who was picketing with the union Wednesday morning.
Kinslow said he was a graduate student at Temple in 1990, when the faculty there went on strike.
“I’m hoping by the grace of God this one finishes faster than that,” he said referring to the Temple strike.