HARRISBURG — Faculty union leaders and the board chairman of Pennsylvania’s 14 state-owned universities are accusing each other of being unreasonable in their stalled contract talks.

Hundreds of faculty members from across the state, including from Slippery Rock University, protested this morning outside the State System of Higher Education offices while the board of governors heard from both sides at its quarterly meeting.

Ken Mash, vice president and head negotiator for the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties, said this morning the system is prolonging the 17-month impasse by making unreasonable demands for concessions on health coverage and other issues.

Board Chairman Guido Pichini says health benefits for the 6,000 faculty members are more generous than the coverage provided for tens of thousands of other state employees. He says concessions are necessary to ensure affordable, quality education.