Dive Summary:
- The Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties, a union representing faculty at Pennsylvania's 14 state universities, carried out an e-mail blitz Monday hoping to fill Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Chancellor John Cavanaugh's inbox with pleas from professors (who have been working without a contract since June 30, 2011) for a fair contract settlement.
- The union's president, Steve Hicks, said the e-mail blitz would hopefully continue the faculty's leverage and get some movement from the system going into their next meeting, while system Spokesman Ken Marshall said that the chancellor got some e-mails from faculty, but wasn't sure how many, adding that some e-mails contained outdated or incorrect information about the most recent contract offer.
- Health benefits, distance education pay and pay for temporary faculty are current sticking points in the negotiations, and both sides will meet again on Dec. 11, when Hicks said he hopes system managers will respond well to the latest contract offer from the union. Last month, the union voted to authorize a strike that union leaders have said wouldn't be considered until next semester.
From the article:
A system spokesman said the chancellor got some emails from faculty but wasn’t sure how many. Spokesman Kenn Marshall said the chancellor directed people to the system’s website to get “the factual details of our proposal.” He said some emails included outdated or incorrect information about the system’s most recent contract offer. ...