APSCUF members from the 14 universities in PASSHE have voted to authorize a strike, although no strike date has been set.
Votes were counted on Monday and of the 82 percent of APSCUF members who voted, 93 percent were in favor of authorizing a strike, according to an APSCUF press release.
Colleen Cooke, vice president of the SRU chapter of APSCUF and recreational therapy professor, said that although voting turnout may not have been as good in the past, the results are still favorable.
“It’s clear that a majority of the faculty are looking at a strike as a last resort,” Cooke said. “They look at it like it’s time to do something, time to get serious here.”
The vote to authorize a strike gives APSCUF faculty leaders, including President Kenneth Mash, the ability to set a call to strike.
Cooke said that Mash won’t call a strike without talking to the contract negotiating team, where they would then determine a strike date. Mash has also said in an APSCUF press release that he won’t call a strike until there’s at least one more chance to go to the negotiations table.
Cooke said a strike likely won’t happen right away due to the amount of planning that has to go into it.
“There’s a lot of things that have to happen before we can start walking the picket line,” Cooke said.
APSCUF and PASSHE’s next negotiation session is on Friday. APSCUF coaches will vote for a strike authorization starting on Wednesday.
