Tentative agreement reached with faculty at state system universities
A tentative agreement has been reached in negotiations for faculty members at state system universities, which include PennWest California, Edinboro and Clarion.
Faculty members will vote April 2-4 on whether to ratify the contract agreement that was completed last week. The Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) is scheduled to tally the votes April 5 at its Harrisburg office.
Delegates from the 14 campuses met Monday via a special legislative assembly video call and voted to recommend the tentative agreement move forward to membership for ratification.
If a member majority votes in favor of ratifying the contract, it goes to the State System’s Board of Governors for approval.
“There’s a lot to be proud of in this agreement,” said Dr. Kennth M. Mash, APSCUF president. “We think it will reflect well on the entire State System of Higher Education. We appreciate the hard work that went into this agreement by all involved, and we especially appreciate the chancellor’s participation and collaboration.”
APSCUF will release contract details after the agreement is ratified by both its members and the state system.
“I’m delighted the contract allows us to invest in our colleagues while acknowledging the faculty’s hard work during the unprecedented days of the pandemic and advancing the redesign of our system, so it addresses the challenges confronting U.S. higher education and serves our students and the Commonwealth even better,” said Dan Greenstein, state system chancellor. “I am optimistic for the future, and I want to thank Ken Mash and the faculty for their great collaboration in reaching this milestone.”
The latest contract expired June 30, 2023, and by law provisions of that agreement continue until a new collective bargaining agreement is ratified.
APSCUF coaches, who bargain separately, remain in contract talks. Their next negotiating sessions are scheduled for today and March 25.
APSCUF represents about 5,000 faculty and coaches at Pennsylvania’s State System campuses. Along with PennWest California, PennWest Edinboro and PennWest Clarion, they include Bloomsburg, Cheyney, East Stroudsburg, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester.
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