HARRISBURG - A letter to all faculty members authored by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s (PASSHE) Acting Vice Chancellor of Human Resources and Labor Relations has led to the filing of an unfair labor practice charge by APSCUF.
APSCUF filed the unfair labor practice charge Monday after faculty members received a letter written by the PASSHE’s Tom Krapsho.
With less than a week remaining in the current APSCUF/PASSHE collective bargaining agreements for faculty members and coaches, tensions are mounting and the first ever strike in the PASSHE is possible. Negotiating sessions for both the faculty and coaches are scheduled for this week in Harrisburg.
APSCUF believes the letter was written and distributed for one key reason - to scare faculty members who could be on strike as early as next week.
“The scare tactics contained in the letter are transparent, outrageous and illegal,” State APSCUF President Pat Heilman said. “The letter features quite a few misrepresentations and outright threats which, APSCUF believes, constitute unfair labor practices. Thus, our legal counsel has filed the appropriate paperwork detailing our charge.”
Since the letter was distributed, Heilman noted that its effects may be different than what the PASSHE intended.
“We have heard from many of our members, and, more than ever, they are behind our bargaining teams. They share our commitment to a fair contract.”