PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Community College of Philadelphia's Faculty and Staff Federation is drawing a line in the sand.
“We are setting a strike deadline for Wednesday the 26 at 7 a.m,” said Union Secretary Marissa Johnson-Valenzuela.
The union and CCP administration have been negotiating a contract for more than a year to replace the one that expired last August. But Federation Secretary Marissa Johnson-Valenzuela says there hasn’t been enough movement.
“There are a number of things they are still refusing to budge on that are really important to our members and our students,” including staffing and class sizes, she said.
The union is also seeking raises and SEPTA passes for students and staff.
CCP Vice President Shannon Rooney says the two sides have more negotiations set for Tuesday.
“We’re really surprised and, quite frankly, disappointed that the Federation would take the step of announcing a strike deadline when we have been going back and forth consistently,” Rooney said.
The college contends any strike could be illegal because a formal fact-finding process is underway. Johnson-Valenzuela disputes that.
“If we do decide to go on strike, we will go on strike until a court says that we can’t. And then we will take it from there,” Johnson-Valenzuela said.
If there is a strike on Wednesday, Rooney says buildings will be open for registration or financial aid services. The college’s 13,000 students would be notified if classes are canceled.
The last faculty strike at CCP was a two-week walkout in 2007.