APSCUF Union Statement
HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) -- APSCUF faculty members are heading to the picket lines after negotiators waited through the night for Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education to return to the bargaining table.
"At 11:35 p.m., we made a last attempt to negotiate through back channels," Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties President Dr. Kenneth M. Mash said. "We waited until 5 a.m. We are headed to the picket lines, but even on the picket lines, our phones will be on, should the State System decide it doesn't want to abandon its students. They'll know where to find me at 5:30 a.m. I'll be outside the chancellor's office at the Dixon Center on the picket line."
Until the State System negotiates a contract APSCUF believes is fair to students and to faculty, faculty members will be on strike, starting 5 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19. The strike will end when negotiators reach a contract.
The faculty contract expired June 30, 2015, and negotiations have been ongoing since late 2014.
APSCUF represents about 5,500 faculty and coaches at the State System universities: Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock, and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania.