With five days left until thousands of professors go on strike, the union and state system were back at the negotiating table today to begin what could be the last round of talks before faculty take to picketing.
Members of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) have been working at the 14 state system universities for more than 470 days without a contract. APSCUF President Kenneth Mash repeatedly said faculty members will strike on Wednesday if a contract cannot be agreed on.
“We will be going to the negotiations table Friday with every intention of trying to reach an agreement, but we will be ready for every contingency,” Mash said. “We are preparing for the worst and hoping for the best.”
An APSCUF press release from today stated the two sides are no closer to an agreement after talks today. Negotiators will reconvene tomorrow morning.
APSCUF offices were in the process moving off of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s (PASSHE) 14 universities this week in preparation for the strike. If a contract cannot be agreed upon, faculty plan to form picket lines on every major entrance to PASSHE school’s, starting at 5 a.m. Wednesday.
Negotiators are meeting today and are to continue talks through Sunday.
“We are eager to return to the bargaining table to continue working with the faculty union to finalize an agreement,” said Kenn Marshall, PASSHE’s media relations manager. “We have informed APSCUF that we are ready to stay at the table to make it happen.”
In preparation for the weekend negotiations, PASSHE administrators revised its contract proposal to narrow the discussion’s focus, according to a PASSHE press release. The union and state system made tentative agreements to several topics, such as evaluations and teaching off campus.
The two sides are at odds with a proposed healthcare plan and salaries, specifically related to adjunct faculty, according to APSCUF and PASSHE press releases.
“Eighty percent of adjuncts are at the bottom of the instructor pay scale, and they’ll always be at the bottom,” Mash said. “We will not stand for a contract that treats our adjuncts so unfairly and that could, should they have families, put them below the poverty line.”
Mash said APSCUF negotiators are returning to bargaining table committed to students and quality education.
The state system is offering union members raises from 7.25 percent to 17.25 percent over the next three years, according to the PASSHE press release. The raises are being offered in exchange for a healthcare proposal, that would cost faculty about $7 to $14 more every two weeks.
Visit apscuf.org and passhe.edu for detailed information about proposals, negotiations and how students could be affected.
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