PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — National labor leaders gathered on Monday at the Community College of Philadelphia to push for more federal investment in higher education.
Representatives of 11 unions, including the National Education Association and the United Auto Workers, announced a coalition to push for full funding of higher education. The labor leaders made their comments as members of the CCP faculty continue to work without a contract.
“We need to change the status quo that has defunded institutions like CCP for over four decades,” said Rainah Chambliss, co-president of the Faculty and Staff Federation of CCP.
Chambliss said it’s important that college instructors have living wages and job security.
“Without our labor, colleges and universities can’t function.”
Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, said the government needs to ensure that students have an opportunity to succeed.
“We must make college affordable, so the focus is degrees, not debt,” Pringle said.
The announcement was a decidedly political event, and Pringle said the nation needs to elect candidates who support funding for higher education.
American Federation of Teachers national President Randi Weingarten said higher education should be seen as a public good.
“The economics of this country demand that community colleges and technical schools and state universities all be funded so that students can thrive,” Weingarten said.