A strike looms over Pennsylvania's 14 state-owned universities. Over the next three days, more than 6,000 faculty and coaches will cast their votes on whether the schools should strike or not.
The voting began Monday and will continue through Wednesday. On Friday a union committee will meet in Harrisburg to count the ballots to see if the schools will strike or not.
"We're looking for an agreement that is fair to everyone, especially our students and their families," commented Kenn Marshall, Spokesman for Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE).
The Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) said the two sides remain at odds on issues including pay for temporary instructors, health care benefits, and online education.
"We got here because we've been negotiating for about 2 years. We've been without a contract since June of 2011,” explained Lauren Gutshall, APSCUF Director of Communications.
Now the union is voting for a possible strike, and if the vote passes, then union chapter presidents at every school have the power to call a strike.
"Our Universities all have contingency plans in place in case, in the event of a strike,” Marshall explained. “Again they've put those plans in place in the past, never had to implement them, hopefully won't have to implement them now."
The union hopes the strike won't be necessary so that the education for 120,000 students can go on as planned.
"We know it makes it more difficult for them to get the classes that they need and to graduate on time. We do not want that,” commented Gutshall. “Faculty members love to teach, that's why they are faculty members at those state-owned institutions. We are taking this strike authorization vote in order to settle a fair contract with a state system."
The next negotiating session is set for December 11, and it will be a very important meeting with the school year ending on December 7 and finals beginning on December 10.
The voting began Monday and will continue through Wednesday. On Friday a union committee will meet in Harrisburg to count the ballots to see if the schools will strike or not.
"We're looking for an agreement that is fair to everyone, especially our students and their families," commented Kenn Marshall, Spokesman for Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE).
The Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) said the two sides remain at odds on issues including pay for temporary instructors, health care benefits, and online education.
"We got here because we've been negotiating for about 2 years. We've been without a contract since June of 2011,” explained Lauren Gutshall, APSCUF Director of Communications.
Now the union is voting for a possible strike, and if the vote passes, then union chapter presidents at every school have the power to call a strike.
"Our Universities all have contingency plans in place in case, in the event of a strike,” Marshall explained. “Again they've put those plans in place in the past, never had to implement them, hopefully won't have to implement them now."
The union hopes the strike won't be necessary so that the education for 120,000 students can go on as planned.
"We know it makes it more difficult for them to get the classes that they need and to graduate on time. We do not want that,” commented Gutshall. “Faculty members love to teach, that's why they are faculty members at those state-owned institutions. We are taking this strike authorization vote in order to settle a fair contract with a state system."
The next negotiating session is set for December 11, and it will be a very important meeting with the school year ending on December 7 and finals beginning on December 10.