August 13, 2014

Representatives from State System, APSCUF meet for first time to begin negotiations on new contract

Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu

Harrisburg – Representatives from the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties met today to begin negotiations toward a new collective bargaining agreement.

The current contract between the State System and APSCUF, which represents permanent and temporary faculty at the 14 System universities, runs through June 30, 2015. Today’s brief session served as an introductory meeting between the two sides. Substantive discussions will begin later.
“Students should have access to relevant programs that meet their needs and that prepare them for the future following graduation,” said Thomas S. Giotto, who is leading the State System’s bargaining team and who spoke after the brief meeting. “The next collective bargaining agreement must support this vision as well as the ongoing financial viability of the universities.”
APSCUF represents the approximately 5,800 full- and part-time faculty members who teach at the 14 State System universities. The current contract between the State System and faculty union was agreed to in February 2013, more than 18 months after the previous agreement had expired.
The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth, with about 112,000 students. The 14 State System universities offer degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study.
The 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 universities also operate branch campuses in Oil City (Clarion), Freeport and Punxsutawney (IUP) and Clearfield (Lock Haven), and offer classes and programs at several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg and in Center City in Philadelphia.