10/20/16
by News Department on 10/20/16State Universities Strike...
Faculty at 14 Pennsylvania state universities went on strike Wednesday morning, affecting more than 100,000 students, after contract negotiations between the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and the faculty union hit an impasse.
The Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties announced on its website that its members went on strike at 5 a.m. since no agreement could be reached.
The union represents more than 5,000 faculty and coaches across the state, and a walkout would likely halt classes mid-semester.
Democratic Governor Tom Wolf had urged both sides to reach an agreement overnight.
The union said late Tuesday night that the state had handed it its last, best offer and was done negotiating. The state said overnight its latest proposal would provide raises to all permanent and temporary faculties and a health care package identical to what other system employees have.
The system has never had a strike in its 34-year history.
The last faculty contract expired June 30, 2015.
