Faculty Strike at 2-Year College Advances Negotiations

"Three and a half years after faculty at Harrisburg Area Community College voted to unionize, they still don't have a contract. But a two-day strike last week-and the threat of another one this week-is getting them closer to a deal. The strike activity at HACC exemplifies a growing national labor movement within the higher education sector, spurred by issues such as stagnant pay, weakened job security and the erosion of shared governance."

"In 2025 alone, faculty walkouts at the University of San Diego, Wellesley College and Tufts University have precipitated new labor contracts. At numerous other institutions, including Illinois State University, the University of Oregon and Portland State University, the mere threat of a strike was enough to pressure administrators into negotiating a contract. Ratifying a contract is also the end goal for the faculty at HACC, a five-campus two-year college in Pennsylvania that serves roughly 12,600 students."

Faculty at Harrisburg Area Community College voted to unionize in April 2022 with 68 percent support but still lack a contract three and a half years later. A two-day strike and the threat of another strike have moved negotiations closer to a potential agreement. The labor activity at HACC reflects a broader rise in higher-education unionization driven by stagnant pay, weakened job security and erosion of shared governance. In 2025, multiple faculty walkouts and strike threats at other institutions led to new contracts or prompted administrations to negotiate. HACC serves roughly 12,600 students across five campuses and faces grievances tied to past faculty cuts and inconsistent policy adherence.

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