MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - More than 100,000 students attend the 14 Pennsylvania State-owned universities. Professors have been working without a contract for over 440 days. After faculty voted, faculty leaders can now set a strike date. No date has been set.
"We want to be teaching because that’s what we love to do. We want to be in the classroom with students and so the last thing we want to do is go on a strike," said Dr. Tom Boyle, Professor and APSCUF spokesman.
"Students don’t want to delay their graduation. They do not want to be paying for a service they are not receiving. The idea that we paid tuition and there’s a chance we won’t be in the classroom. Students aren’t pleased," said Justin Pierre, Student Senate President.
According to APSCUF,"Faculty are objecting to State System proposals that would, among other issues, substantially increase the use of temporary faculty in lieu of permanent faculty, would make use of students with few graduate credits to teach courses, would stop funding faculty research and professional development, would force on-campus students into distance education sections, would cut the lowest-paid faculty members’ salaries by 20 percent, and would charge more for reduced medical benefits while salaries remain stagnant."
The State System says they are willing to continue negotiating for as along as it takes adding, "we have excellent faculty members and we want to reach an agreement that both honors their dedication and recognizes the financial challenges ahead."