HARRISBURG, Pa (WHTM) – The union for faculty and coaches at Pennsylvania owned colleges and universities declined to set a date for a strike following a bargaining session with state leaders on Friday.
Last week, professors and faculty voted overwhelmingly to authorize its union to call a strike. At the time, Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculty leadership said a strike date would not be set until at least after Friday’s negotiation session. APSCUF coaches, who bargain separately, voted to authorize a strike this week.
Following today’s session between APSCUF and the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, APSCUF released a statement saying faculty negotiators remain frustrated with the lack of progress at the bargaining table.
“We will go to the table as many times as it takes to reach a contract that preserves quality for our students and is fair to faculty,” APSCUF President Dr. Kenneth Mash said in a statement, “But our members spoke clearly in the votes they cast last week. It is unfair to our students and faculty members to prolong this process. If setting a date will encourage the State System to get serious about negotiating, we will do just that.”
APSCUF members have been without a contract since June 30, 2015.
Negotiators are expected back at the table on Sunday.