The Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties went into negotiations over the weekend with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education prepared to call a faculty strike if the two parties could not settle on a new contract by Oct. 19.
Negotiations continued into Tuesday, Oct. 18, with a news embargo in effect. Neither side would discuss any details involving the negotiations nor make any statements related to the negotiations during the period of the embargo.
As of press time Tuesday afternoon, the news embargo remained in effect.
Prior to negotiations began Oct. 14, the Kutztown APSCUF union moved its office off the Kutztown University campus Oct. 13.
“Hopefully we won’t need to use it but we have to be prepared,” said Amanda Morris, Kutztown APSCUF chapter president.
PASSHE faculty have been working without a contract for more than one year. APSCUF announced that if the two parties cannot agree on a fair contract by Oct. 19, APSCUF will strike. APSCUF plans to announce a strike or agreement notice at 5 a.m. on Oct. 19 at apscuf.org.
If a strike does occur, faculty will be picketing all across campus from about 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
On the first day of negotiations Oct. 14, PASSHE issued statements to media.
“We came to the table ready to explore a variety of options to get a deal,” said State System spokesman Kenn Marshall.
According to the PASSHE release, the State System withdrew nearly two dozen proposed contract changes as a way to focus the discussion. As an example, the System withdrew its proposal to allow some graduate students to gain teaching experience in labs and clinics-under faculty mentorship-after APSCUF opposed it.
“Negotiations require some give-and-take on both sides. We are doing our part; we need APSCUF to do the same. Nobody wants to see a strike, and we remain hopeful and committed to reaching an agreement,” Marshall said.
The release also stated that as part of its overall proposal, the State System is offering faculty raises in each of the three remaining years of the contract period, in exchange for the same healthcare plan changes already applied to other System employees. The System also is seeking operational changes that would produce additional necessary cost savings.
“We want to provide raises to our outstanding faculty and are attempting to do so,” Marshall said. “Because of the severe fiscal challenges our universities are facing, we also need to realize some cost savings too. We need to modernize some areas of this decades-old contract so that we can ensure a high-quality experience that is relevant for the 21st century needs of our students.”
While the Kutztown APSCUF office was being boxed up and moved from an Old Main office to 206 North Whiteoak Street in Kutztown on Oct. 13, faculty members painted strike signs and handed out flyers to students.
Morris said they wanted to dispel any rumors and address students’ concerns. Some of the rumors that were dispelled included students losing federal financial aid if they don’t go to class during the strike and another that students wouldn’t be able to graduate on time.
“I really don’t think any of these possibilities have a high probability of happening. Anything is possible but the probability of these things happening is very low. It’s not in the System’s best interest; it’s not in the students’ best interest, it’s not in our best interest,” said Morris. “I want our students to understand that we really are trying to protect the quality of their degrees. This taking a stand on these issues that are embedded in the contract and what the State System wants, it’s our way of protecting the quality of their degrees and their experience here.”
Morris said their primary interest is getting a contract. She hopes that they achieve that goal during negotiations over the weekend.
“We have to be prepared to walk out on Wednesday (Oct. 19) and we are prepared,” said Morris. “I would like nothing more for the strike to be averted. We can all go back to concentrating on our students, helping them get what they need before the end of the semester, for their graduation, for their careers. That’s why we’re here teaching.”
Talking to students, Morris said, “Don’t worry. Remember, your faculty have your back.”
Morris anticipates that any time lost to a strike would likely be made up on weekends and evenings, like they have in the past for bad winter weather.
Several students stopped to talk about the eminent strike.
“A lot of the things they are addressing should be addressed,” said Dezyiree Miller, a junior social work major.
Freshman Lauren Savoy, studying a double major of math and physics, said PASSHE Chancellor Frank Brogan’s live webcast on Oct. 4 was a disaster.
“He was very condescending. He did nothing to ease the minds of faculty or students and left most of us in more distress,” said Savoy, noting that while the caption of the Chancellor’s video stated he would answer student questions, she felt he did not answer questions. “He talked about himself. He was reading off a teleprompter.”
Savoy said she has written to Brogan.
Regarding a possible strike, Savoy said, “I think it’s really disappointing on the state’s end because our teachers are still working on expired contracts, (they’re working) just as hard as they were before.”
There are 469 faculty members on KU’s campus, of which not all are union members. Faculty will have the choice whether or not to join in the strike.
“Their first and foremost concern was always the students. How is this going to affect their education? And how they were going to do the best they could for the students,” said State APSCUF organizer Christopher Ayayla who was visiting Kutztown University in preparation for the strike.
Communication design professor Kevin McCloskey, who has been working at KU for 28 years, expressed his concerns about PASSHE’s past proposals. He said Kutztown University professors teach really bright and talented students.
“For a lot of people college is the best place to grow and get careers, to build their lives. It’s a university. They’re learning how to become better citizens. I’ll be out walking the line to set a good example for the students.”
Concluding his thoughts, McCloskey said, “I hope we don’t strike.”
PASSHE expanded its list of frequently asked questions received from students and posted it on their website, http://www.passhe.edu/.
“We want our students, their parents and the public to have as much information as possible about these negotiations and the potential strike that has been announced by the faculty union,” said Marshall. “We are eager to return to the bargaining table to continue working with the faculty union to finalize an agreement. We have informed APSCUF that we are ready to stay at the table to make it happen. We must remain at the table until we reach a deal. Our students deserve nothing less.”