Wage Disparity in Higher Education

Policy Committee    March 25, 2026

HARRISBURG, March 25 – Faculty members at Penn State University and its branch campuses have been in the process of unionizing as the Penn State Faculty Alliance (PSFA), an affiliate of Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 668. After faculty members say they’ve received pushback from Penn State administration, the House Majority Policy Committee convened a hearing to put both sides in the same room and learn more about the situation. 

• Hosts: Rep. Tarik Khan (D-Philadelphia)
• Testifiers:
  • Julio Palma, Ph.D.- Researcher, Professor of Chemistry, Penn State Fayette
  • Marissa Baez- Adjunct Lecturer of Art Foundations and Sculpture, Penn State University Park
  • Jennifer Wilkes- Vice President for Human Resources, Penn State University

Agenda + Testimony

• Hearing agenda and testimony: Wage Disparity in Higher Education

Media Release + News Coverage

• Penn State faculty members detail ongoing process to unionize, March 25, 2026
• WTAJ, PSU faculty work towards unionizing amidst ‘pushback’, March 25, 2026
• MyChesCo, Penn State Faculty Weigh Union Vote Amid Tensions, March 26, 2026

Video + Photos

• Click here to view the entire hearing
• Click here to view photos of the hearing