Students at Community College of Philadelphia are expected to return to class today after an agreement was reached Sunday between CCP's staff and faculty and the administration.
Classes had been canceled for the past two weeks after the Faculty and Staff Federation of CCP went on strike in response to disagreements over pay.
But the two sides finally reached a five-year agreement Sunday afternoon that gave the staff average annual raises of 3.62 percent, according to CCP spokesman Anthony Twyman.
All college faculty and staff will receive an immediate raise of about 3.75 percent.
The two sides had initially reached an impasse after the CCP administration declared its 'best-and-final offer' of 3.62 percent, but added bonuses that totaled $160,000 over five years may have helped end the strike.
John Braxton, co-president of the union, told the Philadelphia Daily News that U.S. Representative and Philadelphia mayoral candidate Bob Brady was crucial in brokering the agreement.
According to Braxton, Brady made phone several calls throughout the negotiations and discussed issues with both.
Brady "really did play a very important role," Braxton said. "If he didn't get involved, we wouldn't have a settlement."
There are about 37,000 students enrolled at CCP.
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