Phila. teachers, district still talking . . . and talking

Contract negotiations between the city's teachers and the Philadelphia School District continued Saturday and were expected to go through the weekend and, possibly, into Monday, when students are scheduled to return to school.

Philadelphia Federation of Teachers spokesman George Jackson said Saturday night that he did not know "how much further the negotiators got when they were at the table" but that "the plan is to go through the weekend."

"Negotiations will continue until we can reach a deal," Jackson said.

School District spokesman Fernando Gallard could not be reached for comment Saturday. On Friday he said: "Our expectations are that we will have a successful beginning of the school year while we continue to negotiate."

The district's 134,000 students are due back in class Monday.

The district wants the 15,000-member union to agree to $103 million in concessions, including salary cuts of 5 percent to 13 percent.

The district has also proposed longer school days and flexibility in assigning teachers to schools without consideration of seniority.

The union, which includes teachers, secretaries, counselors, nurses, librarians, and some school aides, has offered to make changes in health-insurance coverage and payments it says would save the district millions of dollars.

The union has also agreed to a one-year wage freeze, except for less-experienced teachers, who would continue to earn "step increases" and advance on the salary scale. The increases cost about $14 million annually.