Faculty speak on potential strike in fall

Members of PSU’s full-time faculty union discussed the possibility of striking next fall term at a meeting yesterday, and some faculty expressed surprise and frustration over a March contract extension AAUP and PSU agreed upon that makes striking impossible until at least July 1.

More than 50 faculty members filled the Smith Memorial Student Union meeting, and extra chairs had to be brought in to accommodate all the attendees. They discussed the latest developments in the ongoing contract negotiations between the AAUP and PSU and to talk about logistics of a possible faculty strike.

The PSU chapter of the American Association of University Professors has previously said that faculty would be able to strike 30 days after final offers from the AAUP and PSU were submitted to state mediators, which occurred last Thursday.

In front of a white board that read “We have a lot of work to do,” Jonathan Uto, PSU-AAUP’s newly elected president, spoke to faculty about the recently declared state of impasse in the contract negotiations, and on why the union would wait to strike until fall instead of summer if a deal is not worked out with the university.

“The administration’s offer has not changed significantly in the last two months,” Uto said.

When asked at the meeting why the PSU-AAUP had agreed to extend the contract until the end of June, Uto responded by saying that, in part, it was because he heard a desire from faculty to not adversely affect the graduating class. He added, “We hoped the administration would do the right thing.”

A strong emphasis was put forth at the meeting to spread the word of an impending strike and get people involved with the process. It was noted that nearly 60 percent of faculty are full AAUP members and it would take a majority vote from those members to declare intent to strike.

A canvassing campaign and other ways to distribute information were discussed as necessary means to gain support for a strike. Faculty also spoke on other tactics, including conveying personal stories and providing a unified message, to help garner support.

Some faculty articulated an apprehension to strike and expressed concern over potential lapses in health coverage and what exactly the outcome of a strike would be. Fears of a weakened union were also shared. One professor said, “I am willing to put half my ass on the line, but only half.”

Possible strategies for striking were also laid out, including picketing loading docks and campus construction sites, because union members said that other unions involved in construction are known not to cross picket lines in solidarity for striking unions.

Sam Gioia, Graduate School of Social Work instructor, has become active in the union since the negotiations hit a standstill. He said he became aware of the situation around the same time that his dean instructed him to start preparing a means to acquire provisional grades in case of a strike during spring term.

Gioia said he has since watched his students become more engaged. At one point, he said, one of his students volunteered information regarding faculty salaries during one of his classes.

“Students were very curious and very concerned,” he said.

Another open faculty meeting will be held today to discuss similar topics, in Smith Memorial Student Union, room 238, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.