APSCUF President Says “State System Gave Proposal That Purposely Went Backward” – Strike Date Set for October 19

| September 23, 2016

HARRISBURG, Pa. (EYT) — The Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties will be on strike as soon as Wednesday, October 19, if no agreement is reached with the State System of Higher Education.

APSCUF President Dr. Kenneth M. Mash made the announcement on a live broadcast on Facebook this morning at the Red Lion Hotel Harrisburg Hershey in Swatara Township, Dauphin County.

“The State System has asked for tens of millions more in concessions from faculty than they have from anyone else,” Mash said. “Faculty offered a major healthcare concession, but the State System did not change their offer. We sat with them for days, and they gave us a proposal that purposely went backward.”

“They are intent on hurting educational quality, rewarding themselves while simultaneously cutting the salaries of our lowest-paid members by 20 percent, and balancing their books off the backs of their students and our faculty. We will not be a party to it. Period.”

After five days of contract negotiations with the State System of Higher Education, APSCUF leadership and delegate members from all 14 State System campuses are meeting today and Saturday for the organization’s regularly scheduled legislative assembly in Harrisburg.

When that concludes Saturday afternoon, a strike-training workshop will commence. APSCUF plans to resume talks with the State System in October, after these previously scheduled events.

Earlier this week, the State System sent APSCUF a formal announcement that it wants to undergo non-binding fact-finding with a Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board arbitrator. The board has not yet decided whether to grant the State System’s request.

APSCUF prefers binding arbitration because it would bring the entire matter to a conclusion, Mash said.

In the past week, APSCUF’s negotiations team met five days with the State System. Today and tomorrow, APSCUF leadership and delegate members from all 14 State System campuses are meeting for the organization’s regularly scheduled legislative assembly in Harrisburg. When that concludes Saturday, a strike-training workshop will commence. APSCUF plans to resume talks with the State System in October, after these previously scheduled events. APSCUF is waiting for the State System to respond to the five dates it offered to negotiate next.

“We will continue to go to the table in an earnest attempt to negotiate a fair deal. It is time for the State System to do the same,” Mash said. “The clock is ticking.”

APSCUF objects to State System proposals that would affect the quality of education faculty members could provide to their students. Such proposals would, among other issues:

• Increase the number of temporary faculty and lead to reductions in permanent faculty who are devoted to their students.

• Allow students to be taught by new graduate students — new college graduates — instead of faculty with advanced degrees.

• Cut funding for faculty scholarship and professional development that allows faculty to bring current knowledge to students.

• Give university presidents unilateral authority to transfer faculty members to other departments

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.


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