Teachers' union reaches tentative agreement at state-run universities

Faculty at Pennsylvania's 14 state-run universities would receive minimal raises but face higher medical co-pays under a tentative four-year contract agreement unanimously approved Monday by the union's negotiating committee.

Faculty and coaches would get no raise the first year, 1 percent the second, 1 percent the third, and 2 percent the fourth - the same as recently given to other statewide unions.

"By reaching a fair agreement, faculty can now focus on what they love to do: teach. Students can continue the semester without the looming threat of a strike," Steve Hicks, president of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF), said in a statement. Hicks is an English professor at Lock Haven University.

Union delegates will vote on the agreement at a session this week, and if approved, it will go before the full membership for ratification.

The agreement would be retroactive, covering July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2015.

The union represents 6,000 faculty and coaches at 14 universities: Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock, and West Chester.

Dozens of negotiating sessions had failed to produce an agreement. Faculty recently staged a protest at the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education's board meeting. The logjam began to break after negotiation sessions over the weekend.

The sides have been at odds over a number of issues, including health care, pay for distance-learning courses, and the timing of raises.

Under the tentative agreement, members would face higher co-pays for doctor's office visits, emergency room visits, and prescription medications, the union said.

Raises would be given in the fall of each year. In addition to raises, faculty would get step increases in years two and four. Starting temporary faculty who work full-time earn about $45,000 annually. The salary scale tops at about $105,000 with $67,000 as the average.

Union officials said they were pleased that class size would be addressed in the agreement for the first time. A local curriculum committee on each campus will make recommendations, which the president can accept or reject in writing, the union said.

The agreement eliminates extra compensation for faculty who develop distance-learning courses, but provides faculty with technical support and instructional design in developing the courses.

Full details will be released after ratification, the union said.