The Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties has threatened to go on strike starting Monday if negotiations with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education fail to result in a new contract.
The association represents 5,500 professors at 14 state-owned universities excluding those at the Penn State University system.
The professors are asking for salary increases of 4 percent for the upcoming school year as well as further increases in future years.
The state is currently offering only a 2-percent increase.
According to a report from The Chronicle of Higher Education, if the association does decide to strike, it would mark the first such labor action in the school system's history.
A strike of the professors would primarily affect students who are currently enrolled in summer school, of which there are about 25,000 across the state.
Kenn Marshall, a spokesman for the state in its negotiations, told the Chronicle that funding and negotiations are limited "by state appropriations and a commitment to providing affordable tuition for students."
The professors' current contract expires Saturday, and negotiations between the state and the union for new contracts are set to resume today.
- Alissa Eisenberg
