Disconcerting as it might be for the 115,000 students attending the state universities, including Shippensburg and Millersville, the word ?strike? is being used more frequently in reference to the status of contract talks with the faculty.
The Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties, the union representing 5,500 professors, appears to be getting impatient with the failure to achieve a settlement after two years of talks with managers at the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.
They have worked since June 30, 2011, without a contract. In November, the union voted overwhelmingly to give their leaders the authority to call a strike to gain leverage in the talks.
State universities have began posting frequently asked questions about a potential strike on their website to give students some guidance about what would happen should one occur. (Examples of them are provided at the bottom of this post.)
APSCUF President Steve Hicks indicated union officials are discussing when a potential strike would be most effective. He said calling one for Jan. 28, the start of the spring semester, would not carry much impact.
?If students really think we?re going to strike on the 28th, they won?t bother coming back,? he said. ?Waiting a few days or into the second week would be the most effective thing for us to do.?
Another possible date being considered is Feb. 5, the day Gov. Tom Corbett introduces his 2013-14 state budget plan, he said. Striking that day could draw attention to the importance of higher education funding in the state budget, Hicks said.
Then again, Hicks said, it?s possible that when the sides meet on Friday that enough movement toward an agreement could eliminate the need for a strike all together.
If a faculty strike were to be called, it would be the first in the system?s 30-year history.
Last Friday, some progress was made in resolving one of sticking point when the freeze on temporary faculty pay was taken off the table by the system?s negotiators.
After Friday, only one more bargaining session is scheduled before the spring semester starts.
?We are continuing to make progress on several of the remaining outstanding issues, but there still is a significant amount of work that needs to be done to achieve a settlement,? said Gary Dent, vice chancellor of human resources and labor relations.
?We are hopeful that progress will continue when we return to the table on Friday.?
The biggest divide is over health care for current and retired faculty and distance education pay, Hicks said.
He estimates the cost of the union?s position on those issues is between $5 million and $8 million. System officials decline to offer comment about specific costs.
?In the context of the size of this contract, which with health care and everything included is probably worth $2.5 billion and $3 billion, ? being $5 million to $8 million apart is not that big,? Hicks said.
Yet, he said the system has not shown much willingness to move on those issues.
System officials have said they want to more closely align the faculty health care plan to one that other state employees receive.
As for distance education, the system wants to end incentive payments that faculty have received since 1999 for developing these courses.
Dent has said the system?s bargaining position is reflective of its concern about keeping education affordable and be good stewards of taxpayer dollars while trying to retain and recruit quality faculty,
Hicks insists the salary and benefits package that the faculty is looking at is ?not going to drive tuition up by any significant amount.?
In addition to Shippensburg and Millersville, the other state universities that are impacted by the faculty talks are: Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Slippery Rock and West Chester.
The following questions and answers about a possible faculty strike appear on state university websites:.
Will the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education universities close if a strike is called?
The universities will remain open, to the extent possible, if a faculty strike is called. By law, individual faculty members have the right to decline to participate in a strike called by the union so individual classes could still be held. Each university has a contingency plan it would implement in the event of a strike. The goal of every contingency plan is to keep the campuses open, to ensure students and employees are safe and to keep students on schedule toward the completion of their degrees.
What should students do if a faculty strike is called?
If the faculty union calls a strike, students will be expected to report to all of their classes. Individual faculty members may choose to continue teaching. If a strike occurs, questions on classes should be directed to the university.
Should students with on-campus work-study jobs continue to report for work?
Yes. Students with on-campus work-study jobs would need to continue to report to work, as the university would remain open if a strike were called. If a student works for a faculty member who has not reported for work, the student should report to the Dean?s Office.
Will university facilities such as, the library, computer labs, dining services, residence halls, fitness center, registrar?s office, health centers and other administrative offices be open in the event of a strike?
Yes. To the extent practical, the university would remain open so all of these facilities and offices would remain open. All employees represented by other unions are required to work in the event of a strike by faculty and/or coaches. Information about extended hours for services and facilities especially important to students, as well as other special events (films, lectures, etc.) for the university community would be posted on the university website as information was received.
Will an internship or a practicum be affected by a strike?
Because individual faculty may choose to continue teaching during a strike called by the union, this would be determined on a case-by case basis.
What about extracurricular activities that are sponsored by the university ? will they go on as scheduled?
Yes, to every extent possible. In the case that a program or event is dependent upon a faculty member who would choose to go on strike, and this event were canceled, this information would be posted on the university website.
Source: http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/01/potential_for_a_faculty_strike.html
finish line Ebates lotto Illinois Lottery texas lottery Dell Levis
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.