The leadership of the City University of New York’s faculty union is facing a major election challenge for the first time in six years as it tries to resolve a long-running contract battle with the administration.

Leveling sharp criticisms against the tactics and priorities of union leaders, the CUNY Alliance has mounted a full-fledged campaign against the reigning New Caucus organization heading into next month’s ballot.

The rival bid for control of the 20,000-member Professional Staff Congress stems from increased frustration on the part of some members at the lack of a contract resolution after more than three years and the dwindling union funds since 2002. The New Caucus has defended its style and policies, saying the CUNY Alliance has little record on which to base its candidacy.

Politics lies at the center of what has become a bitter campaign. CUNY Alliance members say the current union leadership, led by the president, Barbara Bowen, has strayed out of the mainstream and focused on external political issues, to the detriment of the union. Radical bargaining tactics, they say, have weakened the union’s position and led to stagnant contract negotiations with CUNY management.

“The union leadership has put more focus on street demonstrations and rowdiness and does not understand how to have a civil discourse,” the CUNY Alliance candidate for the presidency, Rina Yarmish, said.

Ms. Yarmish criticized Ms. Bowen for “rushing” to call for a referendum on a work stoppage. She also said it was “politically unwise” of Ms. Bowen to appear with the president of the Transport Workers Union Local 100, Roger Toussaint, during the illegal transit strike in December.

Ms. Yarmish said the Alliance’s platform is centered on returning to an emphasis on what she called “bread and butter” union issues, such as salary, benefits, grievances, and job security.

Ms. Bowen disputed the Alliance’s characterization of the contract talks. “The contract negotiations are not stalled,” she said, adding that she was in “constant discussions” with the administration, the city, and the state.

Ms. Bowen also defended the union’s engagement in policy debates, saying that as a public employee union, city and state political issues could have a significant impact on the interests of its membership. “To engage in public policy is to engage with bread and butter union issues,” Ms. Bowen said.

The Alliance also is charging the New Caucus with mismanaging union coffers, pointing to a “welfare fund” that has decreased to less than $2 million from $15 million during its tenure. Ms. Bowen said the union has made the fund a significant issue in contract talks with CUNY, saying city and state contributions have not kept up with rising costs.

The issues raised by the Alliance reflected a broad disagreement over what a union should be, a New Caucus candidate for treasurer, Michael Fabricant, said. The CUNY Alliance, he said, “views the union in a very narrow and constrictive way that has little to do with politics.”

Mr. Fabricant came to Ms. Bowen’s defense, saying several union leaders, including the head of the United Federation of Teachers, Randi Weingarten, also stood with Mr. Toussaint during the transit strike. He said it was “absurd” to suggest that PSC leaders had forsaken their union responsibilities by tackling external political issues. “We can talk and chew gum at the same time,” Mr. Fabricant said. “These are union issues that are very much a part of the mainstream of the labor movement.”

Elections for the union-wide officers occur every three years. Ballots will be mailed on April 3 and must be returned by April 24.