Pennsylvania faculty union joins national AFT

The union representing more than 5,000 faculty and coaches across Pennsylvania’s 10 state-owned universities is the latest to affiliate with AFT, a nationwide union of education and other workers.

Members of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties approved the affiliation in a three-day election last week. It begins Jan. 1.

AFT, with 3,000 local affiliates, was previously known as the American Federation of Teachers. It is an affiliate of the AFL-CIO that represents 1.8 million pre-K through 12th-grade teachers; paraprofessionals and other school-related personnel; higher-education faculty and professional staff; federal, state, and local government employees; nurses and health care workers; and early childhood educators, officials said.

Another higher education group, the American Association of University Professors, announced its own affiliation with AFT in August 2022.

Responding to questions Monday from TribLive, APSCUF President Kenneth Mash said his union and AFT are in strong positions and thus can collectively enhance promotion of affordability, access and other matters beneficial to students, universities, faculty and coaches.

Mash, a political science professor at East Stroudsurg University, said he agrees with AAUP leaders that one of the reasons affiliation makes sense is the financial and political pressures facing academia of late.

“We have certainly seen a nationalized attack on higher education, with professors even being singled out during this presidential campaign,” he said. “One need not pay too much attention to the news to realize that a lot of the forces aligned against higher education are national organizations.

“Further, bad ideas like consolidation, three-year degrees, etc. do not originate in Pennsylvania,” he added. “It is extremely important that we have a national outlet for faculty and others in higher education to come together to both fend off ideas that are meant to hurt public higher education and that negatively impact the students we serve.”

The State System of Higher Education, to which the universities belong, had no comment on the move by APSCUF to affiliate with AFT.

The system’s campuses include Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Western University (California, Clarion, Edinboro) in Western Pennsylvania as well as Cheyney, Commonwealth University (Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, Mansfield), East Stroudsburg, Kutztown, Millersville, Shippensburg and West Chester universities.

APSCUF has had affiliations with other unions throughout its history but has been independent since the 1990s. Under this affiliation directly with national AFT, APSCUF says it retains autonomy involving policies, collective bargaining and staff.

“We are still APSCUF — just stronger together,” Mash said.

APSCUF members will gain AFT member status with associated benefits. The affiliation with AAUP will enable that union and APSCUF to work together, Mash said.

AFT President Randi Weingarten said AFT and APSCUF share the same goals: accessible, affordable higher education that enables colleges and universities to be the economic, social, and academic engines of communities.

“That requires fighting for dignity for faculty, resources for our students, and respect for academic freedom,” she said in a statement. “In Pennsylvania, there’s never been a more crucial moment for us to unite: State System campuses are facing unprecedented challenges to their mission, relevance, and funding, and our students need us to ensure they remain a pathway to the middle class.

“We are truly stronger together, and the AFT will have APSCUF’s back,” she added.