More than Five Thousand Faculty at Penn State Win A Union With SEIU Local 668

(Harrisburg/State College) Today, over 5,000 faculty across Penn State campuses, including University Park and the Commonwealth Campuses, won their faculty union, the Penn State Faculty Alliance, SEIU Local 668, with 2,510 faculty members voting Union Yes!!! This is compared to 847 that voted for no representation, meaning that the union won with almost 75% of the vote!!

This result demonstrates that Penn State faculty care deeply about the University's future and want a meaningful role in shaping it.

This is an historic union election and the largest union election in Pennsylvania’s public sector in nearly five decades. The majority vote is a result of months of faculty mobilization and years of organizing. Faculty filed for their union on December 9, 2025; ballots were mailed on April 1, 2026, with the deadline for return to the PLRB on Wednesday, May 6.

The union will include faculty members across all ranks and departments, tenured and contingent, full-time and part-time, at University Park and across the Commonwealth Campuses. “I am very excited about the results of the election. As faculty, we all came together to achieve a collective voice in Penn State’s decision-making. Now, we can move forward as educators to create a better work environment for all faculty and support the best learning environment for our students,” Marissa Baez, Adjunct Lecturer in Arts and Architecture at Penn State University Park and PSFA Organizing Committee member.

Faculty are ready to exercise their collective voice to represent and advocate for the best interests of their classrooms and working conditions. “This is a win for all Penn State faculty and an incredible opportunity to advocate for higher education in Pennsylvania. We encourage all faculty to join PSFA and get involved, as we look forward to working with the University and quickly negotiating a strong contract for the faculty. Together we will build a strong future for our entire University community,” stated Beth Seymour, Teaching Professor of Anthropology at Penn State Altoona and PSFA Organizing Committee member.

“The road toward equity, fairness, and better working conditions is never easy. Our effort has always been about dignity, shared governance, protecting academic freedom, and ensuring that faculty have a meaningful voice in the future of Penn State,” stated Julio Palma, Associate Professor of Chemistry at Penn State Fayette and PSFA Organizing Committee member. “We are committed to being truly representative, democratic, and inclusive of all faculty in our bargaining unit. We are also committed to working constructively with the administration toward a strong first contract. This is not the end of the process. It is the beginning of the hard and important work ahead to help uphold the University’s mission and values.”

“Every worker deserves a seat at the table, and SEIU 668 is committed to fighting for that right and opportunity in every corner of the Commonwealth." SEIU 668 President Steve Catanese said. "Now that Penn State faculty have won their seat at the table, our commitment and focus turn to bargaining a transformational first contract for faculty at every campus."

SEIU Local 668 is a statewide public-sector union representing 25,000 workers, with members in all 67 counties across the Commonwealth. By joining a union of community-focused workers and professionals with a decades-long history of serving Pennsylvanians, Penn State faculty have chosen a union committed to equity, service, and solidarity.

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