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HARRISBURG, PA (November 3, 2025) — After three years of unsuccessful contract negotiations with the Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC), the 750 professors who belong to the faculty union have gone on strike.
The HACC Education Association, representing faculty at HACC campuses in Adams, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York counties, is an affiliate of the Pennsylvania State Education Association.
PSEA President Aaron Chapin issued the following statement.
“The HACC administration has dragged out contract negotiations for far too long. They have refused to put forth meaningful proposals. Simply put, this administration is engaging in union busting by endlessly delaying negotiations. Enough is enough.
“PSEA stands in solidarity with the HACC Education Association. The hardworking faculty of HACC deserve a fair contract that recognizes their worth and ensures a bright future for HACC, its faculty, and its students.”
HACC faculty has not received a pay raise over the past three academic years, even though the college had budgeted for it. The wage freeze has saved the college $2.7 million.
Meanwhile, other staff and administrators have received a 3% salary increase in 2023-24 and 2024-25 and a 3% salary increase overall for 2025-26. Additionally, in 2025-26, the college doled out individual raises, driving up the overall total to 3.86%.
Another $875,000 has already been saved through attrition and replacement savings, further reducing the number of faculty available to serve the needs of the students.
Under HACCEA’s last proposal, which college negotiators refused to accept, HACC would come out better financially than what it budgeted.
Chapin is a Stroudsburg Area middle school teacher and president of PSEA. An affiliate of the National Education Association, PSEA represents about 177,000 active and retired educators and school employees, aspiring educators, higher education staff, and health care workers in Pennsylvania.
