Penn State service workers union agrees to strike if talks fail

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – (WJAC) The Teamsters Local Union No. 8, the union that represents technical services employees at Penn State University, has voted to strike, according to its social media post.

It said members overwhelmingly supported a strike if contract negotiations with the university failed. 91% of the votes were in favor of a strike, the post said. Members voted on Tuesday and Wednesday. The final result was 1,878 “yes” votes and 175 “no” votes.

The union said it represents 2,700 university employees who work in janitorial services, emergency services, catering, housing, skilled trades and airport services, among others.

The vote authorizes the Teamsters board to go on strike if no agreement can be reached after the current collective bargaining agreement expires on Sunday, June 30.

The university released the following statement on Wednesday evening:

“We are mindful of the union’s decision to authorize a strike. It is important to remember that a vote to authorize a strike does not necessarily mean a strike will occur. Penn State’s goal is to negotiate in good faith to reach a fair and competitive agreement that recognizes and rewards our valued technical services employees while supporting our mission to provide unparalleled access to education and public service. While the university continues to work diligently to negotiate a new contract with Teamsters Local 8, we must also consider the needs and expectations of our entire university community. We remain committed to finding solutions and common ground at the bargaining table with the goal of reaching an agreement that continues to provide our employees with a quality work life, competitive compensation and benefits. However, like any responsible institution, we also have continuity plans in place that can be implemented to minimize potential disruptions and continue to serve our university community.” – Jennifer Wilkes, Vice President of Human Resources at Penn State