A planned strike by faculty at Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) has been postponed after negotiators for the college and the faculty union reported significant progress during a marathon bargaining session. The decision averts an immediate disruption for students across HACC's multiple campuses while both sides continue to work towards a new contract.
The Harrisburg Area Community College Education Association (HACCEA), which represents the faculty, confirmed the strike would remain on pause following a seven-hour meeting on Tuesday night. While a final agreement has not yet been reached, the positive developments have created an opening to resolve a long-standing dispute over salaries and back pay.
Key Takeaways
- A planned strike by HACC faculty has been called off for now.
- The decision followed a seven-hour negotiation session where "significant progress" was reported.
- The faculty union's primary demands include salary increases and back pay dating back to 2022.
- Another round of negotiations is scheduled for Thursday afternoon to hopefully secure a tentative agreement.
Strike Averted After Marathon Negotiations
The immediate threat of a picket line at HACC's Lancaster campus has been lifted. The faculty union had planned to begin its strike last week, a move that would have impacted students and operations across the college system. However, intense negotiations have changed the immediate outlook.
On Tuesday night, representatives from HACCEA and the college administration met for approximately seven hours. Following the lengthy session, a union representative described the talks as productive, stating that "significant progress" had been made. This development was crucial in the decision to suspend the strike action.
While the specifics of the discussions remain confidential due to the ongoing nature of the negotiations, the optimistic tone marks a notable shift from the previous stalemate that had pushed the faculty toward a walkout.
Who is Involved?
The negotiations are between the administration of Harrisburg Area Community College and the Harrisburg Area Community College Education Association (HACCEA). The union represents faculty members across all of HACC's primary campuses, including those in Dauphin, York, Lebanon, and Lancaster counties.
Core Issues Driving the Dispute
The central conflict revolves around compensation. The faculty union has been operating without a new contract, and its members have not received a salary increase since 2022. This has become a major point of contention for the educators.
HACCEA is demanding not only a new contract with updated salary scales but also retroactive pay for the past three years. The union argues that this is a matter of fairness, pointing out that other staff members at the college have received pay increases during the same period.
"Our members are asking for a fair contract that recognizes their contributions," a union representative stated previously. "We are hopeful we can reach an agreement that values the educators who serve our students every day."
The demand for back pay is intended to compensate faculty for the period they worked without the salary adjustments that they believe were warranted and provided to other employee groups within the college.
By the Numbers
- 7 hours: The length of the negotiation session that led to the strike being paused.
- 2022: The last year HACC faculty received a salary increase, according to the union.
- 4 campuses: The number of primary HACC locations with faculty represented by the union.
What Happens Next for HACC?
With the strike on hold, all eyes are on the next scheduled meeting. Both the college and the union are set to return to the negotiating table this week to build on the progress from their last session.
The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 13, at 2 p.m. The goal for both sides is to hammer out the final details of a tentative agreement. The union has expressed hope that a deal could be reached at this upcoming meeting.
The Path to a Final Deal
Reaching a tentative agreement is just the first step in finalizing a new contract. If the negotiating teams from HACCEA and the college administration successfully draft a deal, the process will move to the next stage:
- The HACCEA negotiation team will present the tentative agreement to its full membership.
- Faculty members will have the opportunity to review the proposed contract's terms.
- A ratification vote will be held, where union members will decide whether to accept or reject the agreement.
Only after a successful ratification vote by the faculty will the new contract officially go into effect. In the meantime, the pause in strike activity ensures that classes and other academic functions at HACC will continue without interruption, providing stability for thousands of students across the region.
