HARRISBURG — The union representing Slippery Rock University professors and coaches today quickly rejected a contract offer from the state.

The State System of Higher Education publicly announced its proposal this morning to the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties.

Less than an hour later, APSCUF President Kenneth M. Mash released a statement saying the union would not accept the offer, citing increased health care costs.

APSCUF represents 475 professors and 30 coaches at SRU and about 5,500 faculty at the 14 state-owned colleges.

The state system’s proposal was a counter offer to a proposal made by the union on Oct. 14.

APSCUF had proposed a one-year interim agreement with similar terms to an agreement negotiated this year between Gov. Tom Wolf and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and between the state system and its other unions, Mash said.

The state system’s counter included a salary increase of 2.5 percent or 5 percent or a one-time cash payment equivalent to 2.5 percent of their salary, based on their placement on the salary schedule, according to a news release.

The state’s proposal also would have increased employee contributions to the health care plan by between $3 and $14 for every two-week pay period.

The health care contribution increase mirrored one announced earlier in the week by the state system for 1,800 employees not represented by a labor union.

Mash said APSCUF was seeking a basic one-year agreement so the faculty could be under contract until the state budget impasse is solved and long-term negotiations could resume.

Changes to health care contributions or coverage would be discussed at length as part of negotiations for a multi-year agreement, he said.

Negotiations are scheduled to continue in Harrisburg on Nov. 20 and 23.