PHILADELPHIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Teachers say: 'No give-backs!'
Published Mar 23, 2007 11:20 PM
A strike by 1,400 Philadelphia Community College workers entered its second
week March 19 in the face of the college administrators’ demands that
workers take what amount to cuts in pay and benefits. The Faculty and Staff
Federation, which represents teachers and support staff at the two-year
college, called the strike March 12 after more than a year of negotiations.
Passing motorists honk in support of striking Philadelphia
Community College workers March 14.
WW photo: Betsey Piette
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Faculty and support staff have been working without a contract since August.
Union leaders say the administration is trying to offset the increasing cost of
health care by reducing the salary package.
The union is seeking annual salary increases of 3.75 percent for five years.
The college has offered 3.62 percent over the same period. “What the
administration is offering wouldn’t keep up with inflation,” said
John Braxton, co-president of the faculty federation. “We don’t
want to go backwards.”
Full-time faculty members at CCP earn about $5,000 less a year than the average
Philadelphia School District teacher, according to the Pennsylvania Board of
Education web site.
College administrators point to “expected budget shortfalls” as
their reason for failing to meet workers’ demands. Yet they found money
to give themselves big raises and to spend on expensive advertising campaigns.
Now the workers and the 36,000 students who will pay higher tuition are being
told to make up the difference. It appears that most students are supporting
the teachers.
As striking workers chant, “No contract, no work!” at picket lines
set up along Spring Garden Street, which borders the campus, passing motorists
have shown their support by honking the car horns and raising their fists. A
St. Patrick’s Day rally in support of the striking teachers was held on
March 16 despite a snowstorm.
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