Brian Cohen
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Can teachers force a PFT strike?

3/21/2013

2 Comments

 
Last night I had the privilege of attending a raucous and inspiring meeting of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, the union that represents 15,000 teachers, secretaries, paraprofessionals, and more across the School District of Philadelphia. With standing room only (check out the photos here) President Jerry Jordan outlined the District's starting proposal for our contract and outlined the PFT position on the same matter. Unfortunately, both sides could not be further from each other - a fact I'm sure is true in any negotiation. 

But what struck me as impressive and concrete was Jordan's call for an "Action Army" to include rank-and-file members of the Union across the city. The details of this group are scarce at the moment but from my understanding it will encourage participants to attend various education-related events across the city and include the PFT voice somehow. 

During the Q&A portion of the evening one teacher asked how much influence teachers might have on these "actions," from choosing which events might be included to what should be said in them. From my understanding, that is not necessarily how Jordan wants the Action Army to actualize. His answer was noncommittal and made clear that the PFT would be telling members where to go and what to do.

Of course, one of the other questions relayed just how serious these negotiations are - one member simply asked, "can we strike?" 

This issue arose in October 2000 as well when the PFT almost struck for similar reasons (loss of benefits, wage reductions). Then, as now, we are affected by Act 46 - a law prohibiting the PFT from striking. If teachers were to walk out of their jobs, they would risk their certificates being revoked by the PA Department of Education. Jerry Jordan was very clear to emphasize that this is the what the law says and what could happen.

My questions is: what if teachers really decided it was time to strike? What if the contract negotiations do not go the way we want them to? Could we, collectively, tell the PFT leadership that a strike is necessary? I truly wonder how much influence teachers have on the leadership of our Union and how much they will listen to us when necessary.
2 Comments
Teacher in Southwest
3/22/2013 01:52:02 am

That is absolutely not how I understood the comments that were made. Jerry Jordan cannot give away strategies this early. If he were to say that we would be willing to strike now, the SRC would take that as a direct violation of Act 46 and immediately start planning with the PA Dept of Ed on combatting this "illegal union sanctioned action."

He made it clear several times that there would be a meeting held on or around August 31st to update the membership as to the status. At that time the union (not the leadership) will make the decision.

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Andrew Saltz
3/23/2013 12:05:16 am

Brian,

The most important thing here is not striking or not striking (though that is quite important). It's that the rank and file do not feel that
a). There's a plan beyond "survival for now"
b). The Union allows them meaningful input.

There's a ton of teachers like yourself who feel that rallies and wearing red is well and good, but that's not going to uproot the SRC, stem the flood of money to ill-conceived charters, or slow down the erosion of teaching as a meaningful profession. I've been to meetings, and while you learn a good amount about the contract, it's more pep-rally than discourse. Just like our classrooms, we need to be meaningful participants.

Also, can we finally cancel the holiday card and buy a real set of speakers?

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    I am a math teacher in the New York Department of Education. I infuse technology and real-world problems into my curriculum in order to prepare my students for the future. I would love for people across the country to recognize we teachers can't do it alone. If you don't believe me, come visit my classroom!

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