Phila. teachers OK 1-year contract extension
Philadelphia's public-school teachers voted last night for a one-year contract extension, giving them a 4 percent raise in March but leaving unchanged their work rules and most benefits.
Philadelphia's public-school teachers voted last night for a one-year contract extension, giving them a 4 percent raise in March but leaving unchanged their work rules and most benefits.
The pact was passed by a resounding voice vote during a meeting of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers at Temple University's Liacouras Center.
The vote comes two days before an extension of the current four-year bargaining agreement was due to expire.
Though both sides expressed satisfaction that current talks were over, they said the difficult work of forging common ground for a longer bargaining agreement must now begin.
"I'm happy," said PFT president Jerry Jordan, "but mindful that this is an extension, and that we have to go back to the table and bargain a multiyear contract."
"The contract buys us some time to negotiate the best possible multiyear agreement to support teaching and learning. I am looking forward to working collaboratively with the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers to begin that process right away," said Schools Superintendent Arlene Ackerman.
According to a joint statement released last night, talks will center on safety in schools, class size, improving teacher recruitment and support, how the work day is structured, and closing the achievement gap.
Currently, the district's white and Asian students outperform African American and Hispanic students, Jordan said, and closing that gap is a pressing priority.
The one-year pact raises wages for the 16,000 teachers on March 15. The starting salary would increase to $41,510. The contract also includes a first-time provision allowing members to refuse medical coverage if they have it elsewhere. The move is aimed at saving the district money, officials said.
The union sent a recent letter to members saying the district was not serious about reform and hinting that the union would stymie district proposals on contract length and seniority.
Ackerman, a district newcomer, has floated the idea of a longer school day, hiking pay for hard-to-staff positions, and requiring more notice when teachers leave.
