(Harrisburg) One hundred and two state legislators, senators and representatives of the General Assembly, are publicly calling on Penn State University’s Administration to exercise neutrality toward faculty unionization. Senator Jay Costa, Minority Leader, sent the letter to Penn State’s Administration on behalf of the 102 signatories. In the last few weeks, the PSU Administration has increased its anti-union messaging, designed to divide and confuse faculty.

“We are urging Penn State’s administration to allow the faculty a free and fair process to form their union and to bargain collectively, without intimidation or threats. Faculty organizing and collective bargaining at Penn State will enable the university to join all other public institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth in providing a clear and transparent process for true shared governance,” stated State Senator Lindsey Williams (SD-38). “Improved working conditions and opportunities for faculty to help charter the course of Penn State’s future will result in even stronger results for our students and our communities throughout Pennsylvania.”

The Penn State Faculty Alliance seeks a collaborative dialogue and collective bargaining to improve the quality of research, education experience, and working conditions for everyone in the Penn State community. “We are so pleased to announce the support and solidarity from so many elected leaders across our Commonwealth. We continue to meet with Penn State’s Administration and look to finalize an agreement for a mail-in ballot election later this Spring. Penn State faculty have been organizing for years, and we look forward to working with the members of the General Assembly to strengthen and preserve access to high-quality university education for students across Pennsylvania,” commented Andrea Adolph, Professor of English, at New Kensington and PSFA Faculty Organizer.

Letter Text and Signatories:

Dear President Bendapudi,

As the Commonwealth’s land-grant university, Penn State University is an educational institution of significant importance to the citizens of Pennsylvania. With a footprint that covers much of the state, Penn State drives educational opportunity, innovative research, and economic development in our community.

The university is an important partner in shaping the quality of life for all, and Penn State’s faculty members are at the heart of its service to our Commonwealth. At University Park and across the many campuses that amplify your impact, faculty engage in cutting-edge teaching methods and mentor our next generation of students and scholars. Faculty research garners national attention for the institution, bringing in millions of dollars that enable Penn State to lead the way in multiple fields of inquiry. Several thousand strong, these faculty members shape the future leaders of Pennsylvania and the nation.

Because of the vital role that Penn State faculty play in the Commonwealth, we are encouraged to hear that they are coming together to strengthen their ability to serve the educational and research missions of the university. The faculty workplace is the students’ learning space, and ensuring that faculty can embody excellence both in and outside of the classroom will ultimately benefit Penn State students. Collective bargaining of Penn State faculty will deepen the robust academic experience that we have come to expect from your institution.

As Penn State faculty exercise their right to unionize, I urge your administration to commit to the following:

• Allow the faculty a free and fair process to form their union and to bargain collectively, free from intimidation or threats;
• Avoid any action that delays or interferes with their right to seek union representation or collectively bargain;
• Spend no state funds, taxpayer dollars, or tuition dollars on union-avoidance tactics or on engaging with union-avoidance firms; and,
• Begin negotiations in good faith without delay if a majority of Penn State faculty members choose union representation through a free and fair election.

The process of faculty organizing and collective bargaining at Penn State will enable the university to join all other public institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth in providing a clear and transparent process for true shared governance. Improved working conditions and opportunities for faculty to help charter the course of Penn State’s future will result in even stronger results for your investment in students and communities across Pennsylvania.

We look forward to joining with you in support of this milestone effort.

Rep. Abigail Salisbury, HD 34
Rep. Aerion Abney, HD 19
Rep. Amen Brown, HD 10
Rep. Andre Carroll, HD 201
Rep. Arvind Venkat, HD 30
Rep. Ben Waxman, HD 182
Rep. Benjamin Sanchez, HD 153
Rep. Brandon Markosek, HD 25
Rep. Brian Munroe, HD 144
Rep. Carol Hill-Evans, HD 95
Rep. Carol Kazeem, HD 159
Rep. Chris Pielli, HD 156
Rep. Chris Rabb, HD 200
Rep. Dan Deasy, HD 27
Rep. Dan Frankel, HD 23
Rep. Dan Goughnour, HD 35
Rep. Dan Miller, HD 42
Rep. Danilo Burgos, HD 197
Rep. Dave Madsen, HD 104
Rep. David M. Delloso, HD 162
Rep. Ed Neilson, HD 174
Rep. Eddie Day-Pashinski, HD 121
Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, HD 184
Rep. Emily Kinkead, HD 20
Rep. Gina Curry, HD 164
Rep. Heather Boyd, HD 163
Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El, HD 49
Rep. Jacklyn Rusnock, HD 126
Rep, James Haddock, HD 118
Rep. Jared Solomon, HD 202
Rep. Jason Dawkins, HD 179
Rep. Jeanne McNeill, HD 133
Rep, Jennifer O'Mara, HD 165
Rep. Jessica Benham, HD 36
Rep. Jim Prokopiak HD 140
Rep. Joanna McClinton HD 191
Rep. Joe McAndrew, HD 32
Rep. Joe Webster, HD 150
Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz, HD 129
Rep. John Inglis, HD 38
Rep. Jose Giral, HD 180
Rep. Joseph Hohenstein, HD 177
Rep. Joshua Siegel, HD 22
Rep. Justin Fleming, HD 105
Rep. Keith Harris, HD 195
Rep. Kristine Howard, HD 167
Rep. Kyle Donahue, HD 113
Rep. Kyle Mullins, HD 112
Rep. La'Tasha D Mayes, HD 24
Rep. Leanne Krueger, HD 161
Rep. Lindsay Powell, HD 21
Rep. Lisa Borowski, HD 168
Rep. Mandy Steele, HD 33
Rep. Mary Jo Daley, HD 148
Rep. MaryLouise Isaacson, HD 175
Rep. Maureen Madden, HD 115
Rep. Melissa Cerrato, HD 151
Rep. Melissa Shusterman, HD 157
Rep. Mike Schlossberg, HD 132
Rep. Morgan Cephas, HD 192
Rep. Nancy Guenst, HD 152
Rep. Nate Davidson, HD 103
Rep. Nikki Rivera, HD 96
Rep. Patrick Gallagher, HD 173
Rep. Patrick J Harkins, HD 1
Rep. Paul Friel, HD 26
Rep. Paul Takac, HD 82
Rep. Peter Schweyer, HD 134
Rep. Darisha Parke, HD 198
Rep. Rick Krajewski, HD 188
Rep. Robert Freeman, HD 136
Rep. Robert Matzie, HD 16
Rep. Robert Merski, HD 2
Rep. Roni Green, HD 190
Rep. Ryan Bizzarro, HD 3
Rep. Scott Conklin, HD 77
Rep. Sean Dougherty, HD 172
Rep. Steve Malagari, HD 53
Rep. Tarah Probst, HD 189
Rep. Tarik Khan, HD 194
Rep. Tim Brennan, HD 29
Rep. Tina Davis, HD 141
Sen. Amanda Cappelletti, SD 17
Sen. Anthony H Williams, SD 8
Sen. Art Haywood, SD 4
Sen. Carolyn Comitta, SD 19
Sen. Christine Tartaglione, SD 2
Sen. Jay Costa, SD 43
Sen. John Kane, SD 9
Sen. Katie Muth, SD 44
Sen. Lindsey Williams, SD 38
Sen. Maria Collett, SD 12
Sen. Marty Flynn, SD 22
Sen. Nick Miller, SD 14
Sen. Nick Pisciottano, SD 45
Sen. Nikil Saval, SD 1
Sen. Patty Kim, SD 15
Sen. Sharif Street, SD 3
Sen. Steve Santarsiero, SD 10
Sen. Tim Kearney, SD 26
Sen. Vincent Hughes, SD 7
Sen. Wayne Fontana, SD 42