Students, faculty and other supporters rally to protest HACC administration's reluctance to pass a contract. The rally took place at the Farm Show Complex parking lot in Harrisburg on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
Connor Hollinger / For LNP | LancasterOnline
Connor Hollinger / For LNP | LancasterOnline
Students, faculty and other supporters rally to protest HACC administration's reluctance to pass a contract. The rally took place at the Farm Show Complex parking lot in Harrisburg on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
HACC’s 700 faculty members plan to strike Monday, with instructors and professors picketing at the college’s main campus in Harrisburg.
After nearly three years of unsuccessful negotiations, including nearly 14 hours of bargaining in the past week, the faculty union said “enough is enough” and told the college Saturday it would be striking in the coming week.
“While we will be on strike Monday our negotiations team remains hopeful that we will be able to resolve the remaining open issues in a timely manner,” Amy Withrow, the union’s chief negotiator, said.
The college acknowledged in a statement Friday that it believe a strike would be imminent.
“We respect the rights of our faculty to express their concerns and to participate fully in the collective bargaining process, including engaging in a lawful strike,” the college said. “However, we are disappointed that this action will create disruption for our students — the very individuals that we are all here to serve.”
The college said it would be “committed to maintaining academic continuity and minimizing disruption to instruction.”
“The college believes the decision to strike disregards the fiscal challenges HACC currently faces, including significant state and federal funding uncertainties,” the college said Friday.
Both parties have pointed to salary increases and back pay requested by the union as main sticking points in negotiations. For a more detailed list of sticking points, go here.
HACC administrators, through a spokesperson, previously told LNP | LancasterOnline that the school would not close its campuses and that it was preparing for a strike. School administrators said preparations could include identifying replacement faculty.
Withrow warned in a meeting earlier this month that a long strike could make it difficult for students to complete required coursework and earn credit hours toward their degrees, but the college said it would seek ways to allow students to finish their selected programs.
A large majority (93%) of union members voted Oct. 2 to authorize a strike if negotiations failed to show progress.
HACC has five campuses, including one in East Lampeter Township with 100 faculty and 2,000 students.
A collection of interviews, photos, and music videos, featuring local musicians who have stopped by the WITF performance studio to share a little discussion and sound. Produced by WITF’s Joe Ulrich.
