The union has upped the ante.

An Oct. 19 strike date was set Friday morning by the union representing faculty and coaches at the 14 universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, which includes East Stroudsburg University.

The Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties members have worked under their old contract for more 450 days and talks between the union and state system have hit more roadblocks than open roadway during that time.

In a press conference Friday morning, APSCUF president Kenneth Mash was disappointed in the state system's rejection of a binding arbitration this week.

“We would have no idea what the outcome would be, but we were willing to live with that outcome because we thought that we need resolution,” Mash said.

The arbitration would have called for a three-person panel — two representatives picked from either side, one individual picked by both — to meet with a state Labor Relations Board arbitrator to fact-find the negotiations and come to a conclusion.

APSCUF first authorized a strike with a statewide union member vote earlier this month. In the following week, the two parties met four times, and Mash said little progress was made.

“APSCUF put a healthcare concession on the table, and still the state system stuck to its offer, which was terrible,” Mash said.

Mash struck an issue with the implementation of graduate students as standalone professors, saying it’s “not a practice accepted anywhere in academia.” He also spoke against the increased use of adjunct faculty.

The state system “urged” the union board to remain at the negotiating table, but APSCUF declined to continue talks until October, according to a PASSHE press release.

"“We should be able to find a resolution through meaningful discussion, continued dialogue and reason,” PASSHE spokesperson Kenn Marshall said. "We can’t afford to stop meeting. This is too important to our students. We need to continue talking.”

The union did not refuse to continue meeting, Mash said.

“The state system, in whatever game they’re playing, gave us dates that included this week — when we told them months ago we were not going to be available to meet,” Mash said.

Marshall said there is $159 million in raises on the table available for the faculty if the union is able to help find a way to partially offset costs.

"We are committed to providing our faculty raises, but some cost savings are necessary to ensure the financial sustainability of the system,” Marshall said.

APSCUF has no intention of shying away from further negotiations, Mash said. He said that a strike is their "last resort."

"But if the state system believes that it could just push its faculty around and that we won’t react, then they are nothing more than bullies,” Mash said. “And we won’t stand for that.”

In two previous contract negotiations, a strike was authorized by the union, but each time the two parties agreed on a contract before a strike was called.

Pocono Record Writer Kevin Kunzmann contributed to this report.