PASSHE introduces contract proposal
The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) and the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) met Friday where PASSHE representatives introduced a new labor proposal as the two sides continue to try and hammer out a labor contract through 2015.
The proposal submitted by PASSHE, which includes California University of Pennsylvania, introduces a general pay increase of 1 percent in 2012-13 and 2013-14, and a 2 percent pay hike in 2014-15.
Other facets of the plan include a fixed salary schedule for full time and temporary faculty and a pay freeze for part time faculty; the phasing out of an incentive program established in 1999 to promote and develop long distance education; modifications to health care plans that would create savings to PASSHE and faculty; and a one-time reopening of the Voluntary Retirement Incentive Program.
PASSHE officials said that the incentive program needs to be phased out because of the increased availability of online education courses and the enhanced ease such courses can be taken.
Officials also said that the reopening of the retirement incentive program would offer millions in savings, noting that when the program was instituted two years ago, all other employee groups, outside of APSCUF, took part in the program and netted $10 million in savings.
The two sides have been engaged in collective bargaining for two years.