Leaders of Pennsylvania's 14 state-owned universities emerged from a closed teleconference Wednesday and announced their intention to enter negotiations with all seven of their unions for an unspecified reason.

In interviews, officials from the two largest unions said they strongly suspect, based on talks within labor circles, that the issue involves a proposed work-force plan of early retirement incentives and other elements including regionalization of some individual campus services.

Steve Hicks, president of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties, said the retirement plan potentially could affect hundreds of faculty systemwide, as well as other university workers.

Darrin Spann, an official with Council 13 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, could not say how many of his 350 maintenance, clerical and other State System workers might be affected.

Mr. Spann, assistant to AFSCME Council 13's executive director, said the State System wants to meet with representatives of all the unions on Feb. 12.

A total of 13,500 workers are employed across the State System, which includes California, Clarion, Edinboro, Indiana and Slippery Rock universities in Western Pennsylvania. All but 1,600 managers and information technology workers are union members.

Kenn Marshall, a State System spokesman, would neither verify nor deny the union leaders' assertions.

"I can't discuss any details of what the talks might involve," he said.

The 117,000-student State System has seen record-enrollment growth in recent years. But it, like the rest of higher education, also has been battered by the recession and has concerns about a hole that could be left in the system's budget when federal stimulus aid expires.

Employee contracts across the State System are not due to expire until mid-2011, and talks on a new contract would not be expected this early. It was unclear Wednesday if that means the plan is to reopen the existing labor pacts or negotiate an agreement on a side issue.

Administrators notified the unions after the State System board of governors concluded Wednesday's conference call meeting, which included an executive session. The unions said the notifications were short on specifics.

"They were coy about not saying," said Dr. Hicks, whose union is the largest, representing 6,000 faculty and coaches at the 14 schools.

In addition to that union and AFSCME, Mr. Marshall said the other unions affected are the Office of Professional Employees International Union, representing nurses; Pennsylvania Doctors' Alliance, representing health center doctors; Pennsylvania Social Services Union, representing social workers; Security Police and Fire Professionals of America, representing police and security guards; the State College and University Professional Association, representing staff including financial aid officers and student life directors.

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