Faculty union, Pa. university system reach potential labor deal

The union representing 5,000 state university faculty across Pennsylvania has reached “an agreement in principle” with leaders of the State System of Higher Education, both parties confirmed Thursday.

The agreement followed a full day and night of negotiating. It comes almost seven months after the existing agreement between the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties and the State System had expired on June 30.

The four-year deal, if ratified by rank-and-file APSCUF members and by the State System board of governors, would mean a prolonged period of labor peace at a pivotal time for the 10 state-owned universities with about 85,000 students, among them those attending PennWest University, Slippery Rock University and Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Western Pennsylvania.

The system has merged universities, cut costs and attempted to rebuild its enrollment though new and modified programs, including some offered on multiple campuses. It has been banking on increased support of late from the Commonwealth to bring those efforts to fruition.

“Legal counsel for APSCUF and the State System will continue to finalize language before a tentative agreement is available for APSCUF members to view,” both parties said in a statement.” The ratification process will begin after the language is completed.

“Details will not be released to the public until the process of ratification and approval is complete,” the statement said.

The union is also negotiating a new contract for coaches across the system. The statement did not mention those talks that involve a separate unit with APSCUF.

The parties have been working under terms of the old contract. Dates for ratification votes were not immediately available.

‘“We need to talk to our members before moving forward,” APSCUF President Ken Mash told Trib Live Thursday. “Our process of ratification includes approval, first by our legislative assembly and then by members.

“It’s likely to be late February before anything is finalized, and the agreement would then have to be approved by the System’s Board of Governors. ” he added.

The State System, in a statement issued nearly simultaneously with the union, confirmed the potential deal.

The talks since the summer with few exceptions progressed relatively quietly without public acrimony, unlike some previous contract processes over the years, including 2016, when negotiation disputes led to a brief strike by faculty.

In addition to the Western Pennsylvania campuses, State System member universities include Cheyney, Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, East Stroudsburg, Kutztown, Millersville, Shippensburg and West Chester.