APSCUF, The Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties, has set a strike authorization vote to take place on November 12, 13, and 14, 2012. While this is not a vote on whether or not the union will strike, the vote will allow the 14 chapter presidents to call for a strike, if APSCUF decides to take that course of action.
This past Friday, November 2, 2012, APSCUF’s faculty negotiations team met with the PASSHE Chancellor’s representatives to continue the contract negotiations that have been ongoing for the past 16 months. During that time, faculty at the 14 colleges and universities in APSCUF have been working without a contract. According to APSCUF, during the most recent meeting in Harrisburg the two sides finalized language on retrenchment and preparing the health and welfare fund for changes in federal law, however, the meeting ended quickly as the Chancellor’s team could not respond to APSCUF most recent health care proposal. Still being negotiated are the key issues of compensation for temporary faculty, health care for retirees, and compensation for distance education.
In a letter to APSCUF faculty, APSCUF President Steve Hicks discussed the importance of voting and urged all members to cast their votes. The latest proposal from PASSHE seeks to cut pay for all temporary faculty by 35%, eliminate all distance education payments, increase co-pays and deductibles for health care, and to make cuts to retiree health care plans.
The two sides are tentatively scheduled to meet on November 9th in Harrisburg.
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Alyssa Röhricht blogs at Crash Culture: Political Train Wrecks for Political Junkies
