2008 Woodie Awards
Union contract remains undecided as classes start
By Amy Kelly
Rocket News Editor
Issue date: 8/31/07 Section: News
The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties came to a tentative agreement in July for both coaches and faculty members, but the final contract is weeks away from being approved or rejected.
Currently, the faculty members at the 14 state schools are waiting to make their decision on the contract until the fine print has been worked out.
"We are very anxious for the faculty to have the language in their hands," said SRU President Robert Smith. "It's a give and take for both the PASSHE and APSCUF."
The APSCUF Executive Council voted to recommend the coaches and faculty tentative agreement on July 2, then reversed its recommendation on July 27, after acknowledging that they had signed off on some contract language by mistake.
If the tentative contract language is available by Sept. 10, then the delegates to the Legislative Assembly will vote to either give a positive or negative recommendation during a conference call on Sept. 14.
However, if the language is not available by Sept. 10, the decision will not be voted upon until APSCUF's meeting in Monroeville on Sept. 28.
The SRU delegates include: English professor, Jace Condravy; English assistant professor, Itzi Meztli; communication assistant professor, Amy Walters; English associate professor, Derrick Pitard; English professor, William Boggs; communication professor, Mark Banks and health and safety assistant professor, Wilma Cavill.
"We are all ready to move on," Smith said. "I understand that they need to review everything and I respect that."
APSCUF President Patricia Heilman said that many union members are being well informed about the tentative agreement.
"Financially, it's not bad, but it's not good either," she said. "The salaries will not keep pace with inflation."
According to the most recent APSCUF newsletter, the economic package for faculty in the tentative agreement includes step increments in the fall of each year of the contract.
Currently, the faculty members at the 14 state schools are waiting to make their decision on the contract until the fine print has been worked out.
"We are very anxious for the faculty to have the language in their hands," said SRU President Robert Smith. "It's a give and take for both the PASSHE and APSCUF."
The APSCUF Executive Council voted to recommend the coaches and faculty tentative agreement on July 2, then reversed its recommendation on July 27, after acknowledging that they had signed off on some contract language by mistake.
If the tentative contract language is available by Sept. 10, then the delegates to the Legislative Assembly will vote to either give a positive or negative recommendation during a conference call on Sept. 14.
However, if the language is not available by Sept. 10, the decision will not be voted upon until APSCUF's meeting in Monroeville on Sept. 28.
The SRU delegates include: English professor, Jace Condravy; English assistant professor, Itzi Meztli; communication assistant professor, Amy Walters; English associate professor, Derrick Pitard; English professor, William Boggs; communication professor, Mark Banks and health and safety assistant professor, Wilma Cavill.
"We are all ready to move on," Smith said. "I understand that they need to review everything and I respect that."
APSCUF President Patricia Heilman said that many union members are being well informed about the tentative agreement.
"Financially, it's not bad, but it's not good either," she said. "The salaries will not keep pace with inflation."
According to the most recent APSCUF newsletter, the economic package for faculty in the tentative agreement includes step increments in the fall of each year of the contract.
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