Title
Urging the School Reform Commission to resume contract negotiations with the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers.
Body
WHEREAS, On Monday, October 6, 2014, the School Reform Commission (SRC) voted unanimously to cancel the Philadelphia Federation of Teacher's contract; and
WHEREAS, Many of the contractual issues that are alleged to be the basis of the SRC's actions were issues that the Philadelphia Federal of Teachers (PFT) had put on the table and were negotiating in good faith, according to sources; and
WHEREAS, According to an October 21, 2014 Philly.com article, both the PFT and the SRC confirmed that the last collective bargaining session occurred on July 1, 2014; and
WHEREAS, The actions by the SRC will have a negative financial impact on teachers, some of whom already pay out of pocket for school supplies required to conduct their classes and educate their students; and
WHEREAS, On Monday, October 20, 2014, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge Nina Wright Padilla issued a Temporary Restraining Order preventing immediate implementation of the SRC's unilateral contract modifications, and requiring the parties to proceed to Expedited Labor Arbitration; and
WHEREAS, It is in the best interest of both the teachers of Philadelphia and Philadelphia public school students, that meaningful negotiations between the PFT and SRC recommence immediately; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Council of the City of Philadelphia urges the School Reform Commission to resume contract negotiations with the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers.
End