October 10, 2003
State System, APSCUF discuss health insurance costs
Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu
Negotiators for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) met today to discuss issues specifically related to health insurance, especially the rapidly escalating cost of providing coverage to State System employees, including faculty.
The State System and APSCUF have been meeting for more than a year in an attempt to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement that would cover the approximately 5,500 faculty at the 14 state-owned universities. The most recent contract expired June 30.
A working group from the two bargaining teams was formed to help the two sides focus on the issue of health insurance. The full bargaining teams will return to the table next week to continue negotiations.
The next scheduled bargaining session between the State System and APSCUF is set for Oct. 17.
With more than 104,000 students, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth. Its 14 universities offer more than 250 degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. More than 375,000 System alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.
The state-owned universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. The System also operates branch campuses in Clearfield, Kittanning, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg. The regional centers are part of the Educational Resources Group, which is responsible for coordinating statewide programming.