As of today, there is no new labor contract in place for the State System of Higher Education schools and their faculty. The APSCUF contract for about 5,500 faculty members expired yesterday after five straight days of negotiations. State law requires the just-expired contract to remain in effect until a new one is ratified.
The two sides are using a new technique on this contract, called interest-based bargaining. They met for three days two weeks ago and all five days last week at the APSCUF offices in Harrisburg, with union President Dr. Kenneth Mash announcing that they have made progress on several items. He did not say what those items were.
Mash said the union appreciates the direct involvement of Chancellor Dan Greenstein and Board of Governors Chair Cynthia Shapira in the discussions. Greenstein applauded the interest-based bargaining approach, saying it is “as promising as it is productive, and is resulting in through and important discussions.”
The next talks are scheduled for July 17th, 18th, 22nd, and 23rd at the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg.
The APSCUF contract for coaches at the State System schools also expired yesterday. Negotiations for that deal were last held on June 3rd, and are scheduled to resume today.
