Members of the college and employees at Group Faculty of Philadelphia are voting this week to authorize a strike if contract negotiations with the faculty fail to fulfill their calls for.
The union, AFT Native 2026, which represents about 1,200 members, is advocating for greater wages, improved staffing ranges and free public transit for college kids. The strike vote started Monday and continues by way of this Saturday.
Union leaders say the choice to ask for authorization to strike follows greater than a yr of stalled negotiations and over 100 hours spent on the bargaining desk. School and employees have been working and not using a contract since August 2024.
Group Faculty of Philadelphia requested a fact-finding panel from the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board on March 6. This panel, consisting of a impartial third occasion, will consider each side’ proposals and supply suggestions for resolving the dispute.
“We stay assured that our proposals present truthful phrases and wage will increase for all, whereas sustaining best-in-class medical advantages at no or low price to workers,” stated Dr. Shannon Rooney, the faculty’s vice chairman for enrollment administration and strategic communications. “To guard our college students from the hurt that will come from a strike, particularly so near commencement, now we have filed a request for appointment of a fact-finding panel with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board.”
“The school is dedicated to negotiating in good religion with the college and employees federation to succeed in an settlement and stop disruption to our college students’ training,” Rooney added.
CCP serves a working-class scholar inhabitants that’s practically 70% ladies and 73% college students of shade, most of whom are Black.
Key disputes
The school has proposed a 5% wage improve within the first yr, adopted by 4% will increase in every of the subsequent two years. The union is pushing for a 9% increase within the first yr, citing inflation and the elevated price of dwelling in Philadelphia.
In accordance with MIT’s dwelling wage calculator, an grownup with one baby would wish to earn over $91,000 yearly to make a dwelling wage within the metropolis — an quantity most full-time school and employees don’t attain.
“As a CCP employees member, I’m making over $20,000 lower than what CCP is promoting,” stated Myles Hinsey, a multimedia technician at CCP.
Union members are urging the faculty to rent extra school, counselors, librarian and IT help employees to higher serve college students.
The union can also be advocating for CCP to hitch SEPTA’s Key Benefit program, which gives college students with free public transit entry. The school has countered that the annual price of this system is presently unaffordable.
Group help
Union members had been joined by native politicians, labor organizations, college students and group members as they introduced their strike authorization vote earlier this week.
“CCP educates extra Philadelphians than every other establishment,” stated Metropolis Councilmember Rue Landau. “This isn’t only a labor difficulty. It’s a problem of fairness, alternative and justice.”
Philadelphia Metropolis Councilmember Kendra Brooks, a CCP graduate and mother or father of two CCP college students, voiced her help for the union’s calls for. “After a yr of negotiations, you deserve a good contract,” Brooks stated.
A strike authorization doesn’t assure a piece stoppage however empowers union management to name for one if progress in negotiations stalls. If a strike happens, it might possible halt all school lessons on the most important campus, regional facilities, and community-based websites. The actual fact-finder’s suggestions are anticipated to be made public in a number of weeks.