June 21, 2019

State System, APSCUF contract negotiations continue

Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu

Contract negotiations continued this week between faculties at Pennsylvania’s state-owned universities and Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education. The negotiation teams met Wednesday through today for interest-based bargaining sessions at Dixon University Center in Harrisburg.

The teams did not release information about topics covered thus far.

“We’re tackling difficult issues, but we are making progress,” Dr. Kenneth M. Mash, president of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties, said of the process overall. “We appreciate the willingness of the System’s representatives to engage openly about important topics.”

State System Chancellor Daniel Greenstein also commented on the negotiators’ work.

“We continue to be pleased with the new approach and the progress we have seen through working together,” Greenstein said. “I remain optimistic, and look forward to future sessions with our faculty colleagues.”

Interested-based bargaining will continue June 24–28 at the APSCUF office in Harrisburg. The IBB strategy focuses on collaboration instead of traditional exchange of contract proposals.

The current contract expires June 30, 2019.

Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education oversees 14 four-year public universities educating more than 90,000 students across the Commonwealth. The State System offers more than 2,300 degrees and certificates in more than 530 academic areas.

APSCUF represents about 5,500 faculty and coaches at the State System universities.