Blog
Will Monday Bring a Hurricane? The Supreme Court Could Deal a Huge Blow to Public Sector Unions, including APSCUF
By: Ken Mash, APSCUF President
As our attention has been focused on the goings on surrounding the budget battles in Harrisburg, including against a cut to PASSHE’s appropriation, fighting off paycheck deception, and working to preserve pensions, an even bigger storm brews in Washington, D.C.
On Monday the U.S. Supreme Court justices will likely announce their opinion in Harris v. Quinn, a case in which a conservative majority could potentially, in a worst-case scenario, find non-member, fair-share fees to be unconstitutional. Such a ruling would deprive unions of revenue because non-members would then be able to free ride on the backs of members and benefit from the hard work that we and our fellow unions, e.g., PSEA, AFSCME, PFT, and SEIU, put in on behalf of all members of our bargaining units.
Should that storm come we will redouble our efforts so that we persevere. The truth is that we can do little to control what happens at the Court. However, you can still have an impact on what happens in Harrisburg by reaching out to your representatives. In the meanwhile, keep your eyes on our capitals, both Harrisburg and Washington.
For more information on Harris v. Quinn see:
http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2014/06/samuel-alito-harris-quinn-supreme-court-union
http://www.vox.com/2014/6/3/5775516/the-supreme-court-could-cut-union-membership-in-half
Call to Action: Paycheck Deception Bills Pass House and Senate Committees
The State Government Committees of both the House and the Senate have now moved anti-union legislation one step closer to becoming law by referring them out of their committees. Dubbed “Paycheck Protection” by anti-union groups like the Commonwealth Foundation, these bills severely restrict the ability of public sector unions—including APSCUF—by prohibiting the Commonwealth from deducting dues from paychecks for anything beyond fair share. They would also restrict a union’s ability to advocate in the legislature on behalf of their membership, meaning there would be no voice for APSCUF in the legislative process on important issues like funding for public higher education or protection of retirement benefits.
Senate Bill 1034 and House Bill 1507 are clear attempts to weaken and silence union members in order to maximize the power of other outside groups. The Commonwealth currently allows payroll deductions that benefit charities, retirement companies, and insurance companies that advocate on behalf of their members. However, only unions are singled out in these bills. We cannot allow this attempt to go unchallenged.
Please immediately contact your Senator and Representative and ask them to stand up to this attempt to challenge your collective voice. Ask them to OPPOSE Senate Bill 1034 and House Bill 1507.
APSCUF Remains Concerned About the Corbett-Tobash Pension Plan
By Prince Matthews, APSCUF Intern
Yesterday, Representative Mike Tobash (R-125th District) held a press conference urging support for a hybrid pension reform plan which will impact the retirement security of current and future APSCUF members. Supported by Governor Tom Corbett, the plan will be introduced as an amendment to House Bill 1353 and will, among other things, force all future employees and current members who return from a “break in service” into an inferior pension plan with reduced benefits.
Under the hybrid proposal, the first $50,000 of an employee’s salary or first 25 years of service would be covered by a traditional defined benefit plan, although at a much lower employer contribution rate and a significantly smaller benefit. A 401-K style defined contribution plan is provided for all income over $50,000 or 25 years of service. According to a Keystone Research Center report, the new plan would reduce benefits for employees between 20 to over 40 percent. Employees who make over $50,000 will see the largest cuts in benefits (the average APSCUF faculty member makes over $50,000). The plan is also expected to generate very minimal savings for the state.
New APSCUF President Stands Ready to Lead
Today, Dr. Kenneth M. Mash begins his two-year term as president for the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF). He was elected to the position on April 26th during APSCUF’s spring legislative assembly. APSCUF represents the over 6,000 faculty and coaches at Pennsylvania’s state-owned universities.
No stranger to APSCUF, Dr. Mash has a decade of leadership experience with the state organization, including serving for the last four years as vice president. Dr. Mash also fought tirelessly for fair contracts for both faculty and coaches as a Negotiations Team member.
Dr. Mash is a political science professor and former co-director of the honors program at East Stroudsburg University (ESU). During his tenure at ESU, he dedicated countless hours to the local APSCUF chapter, serving as Acting President, Vice President, and spokesperson for the ESU faculty. Outside of the union, Dr. Mash holds the titles of author and distinguished professor, an honor bestowed upon ESU faculty for excellence in university and statewide service, teaching, and academic scholarship.
Dr. Mash’s experience and professionalism will serve him well as he tackles the many issues that confront public higher education. “It’s truly an honor to serve the faculty and coaches at our great universities,” said Mash. “Through their skilled teaching, mentoring, and their important research, every day they go the extra mile to provide an affordable, excellent college education for Pennsylvania’s students. I am excited to help my colleagues as they do their part to build a great future for our Commonwealth.”
A political scientist, Dr. Mash is a graduate of Queens College (1987) and the Pennsylvania State University (1990 & 1997). Dr. Jamie Martin, a professor of criminology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, will also begin her two-year term as APSCUF vice president.
Interaction and Support Trumps Access in Higher Education
Higher education is not a service that can be commoditized or reduced to a script to be outsourced or mass produced. APSCUF faculty take pride in their ability to provide a high quality education that invokes thought provoking variables for discussion and increased learning opportunities.
The creators of Massive Open Online Courses or MOOCs show more concern in opening access and creating a model where hundreds (if not thousands) can sign in to “attend” an online lecture or video than producing high quality education.
Recently APSCUF’S Ad Hoc Committee on Academic Policy issued a policy on distance education. APSCUF contends that while distance education provides access to underserved student populations, the traditional method of classroom instruction proves to be a better method.
Unlike a face-to-face classroom, distance education lacks the direct and immediate social interaction between instructors and students that is essential to the educational environment. Other challenges facing distance education include student retention issues, strained student time-management skills, and the difficulty instructors face in replicating traditional classroom experiences.
The Campaign for the Future of Higher Education recently produced a video that also addresses concerns with the MOOC industry. Challenges to the proponents of this mass-produced, impersonal, scripted “free” education include such thought-provoking questions as:
- If you have to pay for a “certificate of completion” to authenticate the learning experience how it is free?
- How does a free online course increase access to education in third-world countries with poor infrastructure and power, let alone broadband access?