Philadelphia Teachers’ Union Willing To Accept Pay Freeze, Pay Into Health Care
August 28, 2013 6:18 AM
(PFT president Jerry Jordan, left, addresses teachers’ rally outside school district headquarters on August 22, 2013. Credit: Mike DeNardo)
By Mike DeNardo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - KYW Newsradio has learned the Philadelphia teachers union is prepared to make some significant movement in contract talks with the school district.
Concerned that schools will open September 9th without adequate staffing, Philadelphia Federation of Teachers president Jerry Jordan is ready to budge at the bargaining table.
“I am prepared to make a recommendation to our members at our meeting on Monday evening that in order to restore the services to the schools for the children, that we will propose that we accept a pay freeze,” Jordan says the union will also offer to begin making contributions to their health care premiums — something the union has never done.
“We want to make sure that the reforms will lead to savings for the health care costs to the school district. Which may very well mean contributions as well by members.”
The district was seeking teacher pay cuts of anywhere from 5 to 13
