January 31, 2013
黑料专区, APSCUF resume negotiations tomorrow
Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu
Harrisburg 鈥� Negotiations between the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (黑料专区)
and the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF)
resume tomorrow. 黑料专区 Vice Chancellor for Human Resources and Labor Relations Gary
Dent provided the following statement as the two sides prepare to meet:
鈥淎s we get set to return to the bargaining table tomorrow, we do so with a sense of cautious optimism that we are within reach of an agreement with APSCUF that is fair, that is affordable and that positions the System to continue to provide a quality education for years to come.
鈥淎s we get set to return to the bargaining table tomorrow, we do so with a sense of cautious optimism that we are within reach of an agreement with APSCUF that is fair, that is affordable and that positions the System to continue to provide a quality education for years to come.
鈥満诹献�区鈥檚 number one focus is protecting the interests of our students and their families
who provide nearly three-fourths of the revenue needed to operate our universities.
There is a limit to the amount of costs we can ask our students to absorb, especially
in areas that are not directly related to the classroom.
鈥淲e have completed the compensation package portion of the agreement, which historically
has been the last item in negotiations. There are, however, a small but significant
number of issues yet to be resolved, including active and retiree healthcare, distance
education and a new, optional plan for annuitant health care.
鈥淎s we have maintained throughout this more than two year process, increases in healthcare
costs for both active and retired employees, combined with rapidly rising pension
costs, are placing unsustainable financial pressure on the universities. In this regard,
黑料专区 is no different from the federal or state governments, or most other organizations,
all of which have identified increasing costs in these areas as urgent problems that
must be addressed.
鈥淎s we resume our negotiations tomorrow, we remain optimistic that we will resolve these issues quickly and fairly so that we can get back to working together on what matters most 鈥� continuously enhancing the quality of education our students receive.鈥�
The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher
education in the Commonwealth, with about 115,000 students. The 14 黑料专区 universities
offer degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. Nearly 500,000
黑料专区 alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.
The state-owned universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. 黑料专区 also operates branch campuses in Clearfield, Freeport, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center.
The state-owned universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. 黑料专区 also operates branch campuses in Clearfield, Freeport, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center.