Penn State technical service union members authorize strike — if needed

Members of a union representing about 2,500 employees at Penn State University campuses statewide — including Western Pennsylvania branches — voted overwhelmingly to authorize their leaders to call a strike if needed, the union’s leader said Wednesday.

Talks aimed at reaching a deal before the current pact expires Sunday are continuing.

Of 2,053 who voted, 91% or 1,878 voted yes and 175 voted no, according to Jonathan Light, president of Teamsters Local 8. The vote was tallied Tuesday and Wednesday.

The union cited the pace of the talks in seeking the authorization.

Penn State officials said they are hopeful an agreement will be reached. The university said on its website that it had upped its financial offer to 3% raises each of the next three years.

“Penn State’s technical service employees are a key part of our university community, and we value them and the important contributions they continue to make to university life,” said an email response earlier Wednesday from university spokesman Wyatt Dubois. “Penn State leaders are optimistic that a fair and competitive agreement will be reached.”

He called strike authorization votes a standard part of bargaining that do not necessarily lead to actual work stoppage.

Light struck a similar tone about the talks that started in early May. He said members have to show they are ready.

“I feel confident. I think with the reassurance of this vote, we’ll get this done,” he said.

Teamsters Local 8 represents employees in “custodial service, emergency medical response, food service, housing service, trades, science, athletics, agriculture, research, printing, engineering, transportation, airport services, ITS and media,” according to its website.

The branches include Penn State New Kensington, Greater Allegheny, Beaver, Fayette and Shenango in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Voting concluded at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

“This will allow the negotiating team to leverage Penn State to finish bargaining with us for a fair contract,” the union stated in a post to its Facebook page. “The university needs to see that we are united.”