Pa. university faculty authorize strike

In a move to speed up contract negotiations, faculty at the 14 state-supported universities in Pennsylvania voted Friday to authorize a potential strike.

If a strike is called, it likely would not happen until next semester, which starts in late January, said Steve Hicks, president of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties.

"We will continue to do everything we can to reach an agreement," Hicks said. "A strike is truly a last resort."

The union's last contract expired in June 2011, and there have been nearly 40 negotiating sessions, union officials said.

The union is at odds with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education over health-care costs, compensation for part-time faculty, and pay for distance learning courses.

State funding for the system has been declining, as has enrollment. About 27 percent of the system's operating costs are paid by the state.

The union includes 6,000 instructors and coaches at West Chester, Cheyney, East Stroudsburg, Kutztown, Bloomsburg, Millersville, California, Edinboro, Slippery Rock, Mansfield, Indiana, Clarion, Lock Haven, and Shippensburg Universities.

The union said its negotiations committee was planning to meet within 10 days to discuss a potential strike date.