Tentative teacher strike set

Philadelphia's 21,000 public school teachers will go on strike this Friday if a new contract is not successfully negotiated between the School District and the teachers' union by then, Philadelphia Federation of Teachers President Ted Kirsch announced last night. Before a crowd of about 1,200 frenzied PFT members in an auditorium at North Philadelphia's Central High School, Kirsch addressed the Board of Education with the union's grievances and then presented the legally mandated notice that a strike would be called. "By imposing unacceptable working conditions upon the membership... I am hereby notifying you that unless a contract is negotiated with both parties agreeing, we will be forced, by your actions, to stop working effective at the close of the work day on Friday, October 27," Kirsch told the board as thunderous cheering erupted from the pro-union crowd. In the past, officials from the Board of Education have said that any teachers' strike would result in the closing of all 260 of the city's public schools. The PFT's strike deadline of Friday afternoon means that most students will not be affected until Monday. "We have given more than the [state law] required 48-hours notice to give parents and students time to make arrangements for their children," Kirsch said. "We hope that in the time that remains we will be able to reach a negotiated settlement." The possibility of a teachers' strike has been particularly real ever since September 27, when the Board of Education voted unanimously to follow the recommendation of Mayor John Street and impose a forced contract upon the PFT after nine months of failed negotiations. At that time, Kirsch said that the union -- which had been working without a contract since the previous agreement expired on September 1 -- would hold off on calling a strike until it was most beneficial for the union. That time, it appears, will come this Friday. "When the [negotiating] process began, you told us you wanted a new beginning, a new partnership -- and we believed you," Kirsch angrily told the board as he shook his finger at the nine-member panel. "Shame on you." Following his message, Kirsch led the PFT members out of the room and to the front lawn of the high school, where they met up with about 1,000 other union members for a candlelight rally in support of the strike and the union's cause. Among other demands, the PFT is calling for higher salaries and benefits for all employees, smaller class sizes and stronger provisions for dealing with unruly students. In the imposed contract, the Board of Education extended the teachers' daily working time to 7 1/2 hours -- putting the Philadelphia workday on par with the national average -- without raising salaries proportionately. The Board also instituted a new system of seniority assignments, as well as a four-year, 14 percent pay increase. PFT members from across the city reacted with anger to the Board's initial contract move, and exhibited the same disgust last night for both the Board and Street. "The PFT is willing to take action, but the school board is deaf," Arts and Technology School teacher Zachary Rubin said. "If they cared about kids they'd be lowering class size and putting a full-time librarian and counselor in each school." Prior to the Board's meeting, union members -- almost all of whom sported the PFT's trademark red T-shirt -- joined in a variety of derisive songs and chants, many aimed at Street, including "Hit the Road, John" and "One-Term Mayor." Union members continued to display animosity toward the Democratic mayor following the announcement of intent to strike. "I was at [Vice President Al] Gore's rally on Saturday night," Cook-Wissahickon Elementary School teacher Estelle Moffa said. "And I watched as Gore stood on stage with Street and praised the labor history of Philadelphia while Street smiled next to him. Shame on John Street for being a pretend Democrat." Earlier in the week, some warned that the political ramifications of a strike may be serious, as unionized workers may hesitate to cross picket lines to deliver voting booths to schools for Election Day. Such a move could only hurt Gore, who will count on Philadelphia's overwhelming Democratic majority to carry Pennsylvania come November 7. But as the PFT moved forward with strike plans last night, Kirsch said that the union would do nothing to impede the electoral process. Union members agreed that such suggestions were false. "That's a red herring," Rubin said. "Everybody believes in democracy and that the franchise is one of the most important rights we have. Nobody wants to interfere with anyone exercising their suffrage."