PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Unsatisfied with the progress of contract talks, the faculty union at the Community College of Philadelphia has overwhelmingly voted to authorize its leadership to call a strike. The move puts CCP one step closer to its first faculty strike since 2007.
After a week of voting, members of the three bargaining units at CCP have overwhelmingly given their leadership the authority to call a strike. Talks are still going on though, and the union hasn’t set a strike date.
On Monday, AFT Local 2026 said 97% of members who turned out agreed to authorize a strike, though the union did not say how many people voted.
CCP and the union — which represents 1,200 full- and part-time faculty and support staff — have been trying to work out a new contract for more than a year. After four months of negotiations, they have been unable to agree on a contract to replace the one that expired last August.
The union is demanding SEPTA passes for students and instructors, staffing increases, and pay raises of 9%, 9%, 6%, and 6% over four years. The college is offering 5%, 4%, and 4% in a three-year deal.
Union officials say adjuncts at Temple University earn 25% more than their CCP counterparts for teaching the same courses.
Earlier this month, CCP said talks were at an impasse and asked the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board to appoint a fact-finder to recommend a middle ground.
In a statement Monday, the college said it believes a strike during a fact-finder’s investigation would be unlawful.