May 4, 2007 By Steve Ferris 6 min read

CALIFORNIA – Union faculty at California University of Pennsylvania tried to tell students on Thursday not to worry about the union’s strike authorization vote, its nearly expired contract and the difficult contract negotiations with the state. But attempting to ease students’ fears about a possible strike on their last day of classes before final exams begin next week was only half of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties’ goal.

“It’s time to get to that negotiating table,” professor Linda Toth, president of APSCUF’s Cal U chapter, said at a rally on campus.

The faculty union’s four-year contract with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, which operates 14-state-owned universities, is due to expire on June 30. APSCUF represents 350 faculty members at Cal U and almost 5,000 in the State System.

The union also represents about 1,000 coaches, whose three-year contract is also due to expire on June 30.

The faculty’s strike authorization passed in April with approval from 96 percent of the 80 percent of the faculty who turned out for the vote.

The coaches’ strike authorization vote drew a 75 percent turnout with 98 percent voting for authorization.

While Toth declined to discuss the union’s specific contract proposals, she indicated that salaries are among the primary issues.

Toth said it is difficult to retain quality professors without good pay. She said Cal U faculty is paid less than faculty at colleges and universities in the surrounding area.

“The real issue is budget appropriations at the state level,” Toth said, adding that the level of funding the state provides for the State System’s operating budget has fallen over the years from two-thirds to one-third.

“We need to work together to get a higher appropriation,” Toth said.

Rick Cumings, a communications studies professor with 15 years at Cal U, said this contract negotiation seems to following the same pattern as the last two contact negotiations.

“It always seems to be the same pattern,” said Cumings, who was helping Toth and other faculty members distribute literature and talk to students.

The faculty is always ready to negotiate, but the State System drags its feet until the existing contract nearly expires and then there is a “flurry” of negotiations, he said.

“This time, if there’s nothing by July 1, we walk,” Cumings said. “We’re hoping to send a message: It’s time to get serious.”

APSCUF has approved strike authorization during the last two contract negotiations, but unlike the last two this year’s vote was held before the contract expired.

The union has never held a strike since the State System was created in 1983.

“We’re meeting fairly regularly,” said State System spokesman Kenn Marshall. “We’re addressing all areas of the contract.”

The sides met last week and are scheduled to meet today and Saturday. Marshall said no negotiating sessions are set for next week because that’s when the schools conduct their graduation ceremonies, but another session is set for May 18-19 and negotiations will continue until they reach an agreement.

As is past contract negotiations, Marshall said, salaries and benefits are major issues.

He said faculty salaries are in at least the 90th percentile of public schools with master degree programs, like those in the State System.

“Our salaries remain very competitive. We want to attract the best teachers to our universities. We want to be competitive. I’m sure we’ll continue to be,” Marshall said.

Like State System Chancellor Judy G. Hample, state APSCUF President Patricia Heilman lobbies legislators for more money for the State System, Marshall said.

“For the most part we work together. Dr. Heilman spends quite a bit of time on the hill as well,” he said.

The State System’s appropriation is important and an “investment in the future,” but its not part of the contract negotiations, Marshall said.

Last year’s appropriation increase of 5 percent was one of the largest increases ever for the State System, he said.

This year, Gov. Edward Rendell proposed a $484-million appropriation, which would be a 3.5-percent increase, in response to the State System’s request for $495.7 million, which would have been a 6 percent increase.

The State System’s operating budget is $1.3 billion.

Under the current faculty contract, the starting salary is $40,599 and a tenured professor at the top of the pay scale is paid $97,767.

In 2003 and 2004, the first two years of the contract, the starting salary was $38,269 and the top pay was $89,907.

“Any increase we get has nothing to do with students’ tuition,” said Toth.

According to the union’s literature, faculty and coaches received a 2.25-percent net salary increase while tuition rose 9 percent in the 2002-03 school year.

In 2003-04, faculty did not get a raise, but tuition rose 5 percent.

Faculty received a .25-percent raise in 2004-05 and tuition increased 4.6 percent.

In 2005-06, faculty got a 3 percent raise while tuition rose 2 percent.

Faculty received a 6.25-percent raise in 2006-07 while tuition increased 2.7 percent.

Mary Popovich, who has been teaching in the health sciences and sports studies department for 15 years, but is considered a full-time temporary instructor, said she spends her summers teaching at a community college that pays more than Cal U.

She said she just learned that her position will be put on the tenure track.

However, she will have to earn her doctorate degree to qualify for tenure, and continue working summers at the community college to pay off the tuition for her master’s degree.

Popovich said the current contract creates financial uncertainty for non-tenured teachers.

Toth said she hoped faculty members were able to ease students’ fears about a possible strike and explain that a strike would be the last resort.

Donniele Mills, a senior applied sociology major from Monessen, spoke with one of the faculty members outside of the student union.

“I would say they definitely say they have a point,” Mills said.

She said general education classes, which are required from students in all majors, are quickly filled forcing many students to put them off until their junior or senior years.

Mills said she supports the faculty who say they want input from students when creating class schedules.

Ricky Perrotta II, a senior second education and English literature major from Uniontown, said students have circulated petitions asking the university to open more sections of required classes.

“A lot of students are really upset,” Perrotta said. “It’s hard to graduate in four years.”

“There’s no way you can graduate if you can’t get the classes you need,” said Erin Keaney, a junior English literature major from Canonsburg.