HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) – The union representing faculty at West Chester, Cheyney and twelve other state-owned Pennsylvania universities is the latest teachers union to take up Governor Corbett’s call for a pay freeze.

Last week, the state’s largest public school teachers union, the PSEA, urged its local leaders to “seriously consider” the governor’s call for a one-year pay freeze.

Now, APSCUF – the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties – is offering to negotiate a one-year freeze.

Governor Corbett has proposed slashing state funds for the 14 state-owned universities and APSCUF vice-president Ken Mash says it’s hoped that the gesture will cause state lawmakers to think twice about enacting those cuts, “We hope that the legislators are mindful of the fact that we are doing this, and they see that we are serious, so that they will restore the money.”

Of the union’s offer, a spokesman for the State System of Higher Education says administrators recognize it is a time of shared sacrifice, but cannot comment further since contract negotiations are already in progress.

Reported by Tony Romeo, KYW Newsradio 1060