Philadelphia faculty and staff strike settled

Faculty and staff at the Community College of Philadelphia ended a nine-day strike and resumed classes March 28, after securing raises averaging 3.92 percent annually over the next five years. Their contract also maintains healthcare benefits with premiums paid by the employer—another priority of the 400 full-time faculty, 700 part-time faculty and 200 staff represented by the Faculty and Staff Federation/AFT.

The three units' votes to pass the contract were overwhelming. But reflecting just how acrimonious this settlement was, the full-time faculty unanimously passed a motion to hold a referendum on a vote of no-confidence in the CCP president, Stephen Curtis.

While the step is unprecedented, says FSF co-president Karen Schermerhorn, it's not the first time such an action has been discussed, because the administration has interfered with or bypassed the governance system before.

The strike was based on economic issues. The union was seeking varied percentage increases to address unit inequities that had occurred when higher-paid faculty, in the past, sacrificed on their own raises in order to increase the pay of lower-paid faculty—some of whom still only make $35,800 a year. The college's last, best offer of 3.62 percent did not allow for the adjustments, because the money would come to the three units in one lump that would have to be divvied up.

Student support for the faculty and staff grew over the course of the strike. They brought coffee and doughnuts to the picketers, held a demonstration, chanted "2-4-6-8! Let our teachers educate!" and held a bake sale. Other boosts came from unions, including Temple University Graduate Student Association, the Student Labor Action Project, AFSCME, Jobs with Justice, and the Electricians and Carpenters unions.

The difficulty settling the contract is related to years of declining support for the college from the city of Philadelphia, says John Braxton, FSF co-president. At one time, Philadelphia provided one-third of CCP's operating funds. Now, it's down to 19 percent, with the state providing 32 percent and families 49 percent. Aggravating the tight budget, says the union, is the college's decision to sink more than $1.5 million into an image campaign called "Path to Possibilities." The FSF has asked the college to be more transparent about its expenditures.

The break in the stalemate occurred when U.S. Rep. Robert Brady (D-Pa.), working with Gov. Edward Rendell, came up with a package to meet the union's demands. But the college, initially, turned that down too, says Braxton, "saying literally, 'We don't want to reward a strike. There are consequences for bad behavior.'"

In addition to the contract, which runs from Sept. 1, 2006, through Aug. 30, 2011, the union scored other victories. Thanks to a mayoral candidates' forum sponsored by the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers in March, all of the candidates for mayor are on videotape in support of full city funding for the college. PFT president Ted Kirsch played a key role in achieving the settlement.

Also, the FSF has been 'revitalized,' says Braxton. Now the college must face the consequences of disgruntled faculty and students, says Braxton.

Unions sue to stop hospital privatization

Unions in New York have filed suit to block the privatization of three teaching hospitals that are part of the State University of New York—the Health Science Centers at Brooklyn, Stony Brook and Upstate in Syracuse.

The hospitals are among nine hospitals and nursing homes that have been slated for privatizing or merger under the recommendations of a commission appointed by the former governor, Republican George Pataki. Under the terms governing the creation of the commission, which was headed by Pataki supporter Stephen Berger, its recommendations would automatically become policy if the Legislature failed to act on them. The Berger Commission Report was released Nov. 28. The state Legislature met on two days in December. Despite a lobbying blitz by the United University Professions of SUNY, the Legislature adjourned without acting (see February 2007, News & Trends).

In March, New York State United Teachers and the UUP again put pressure on the Legislature, posting a video and petition on the http://www.saveupstate.com Web site to get members and the public communicating with the elected officials.

UUP, through NYSUT, filed its suit against the current governor, Elliot Spitzer, the Berger Commission and other New York officials on March 27, according to a UUP press release. The complaint alleges that the Berger Commission recommendation to join Upstate and Crouse hospitals and put them under the control of "an entity other than SUNY" is unconstitutional, irrational and illegal because it usurps a decision-making role that by law belongs to elected officials. In its lawsuit and media campaign, the union also makes the case that removing Upstate from SUNY governance jeopardizes its vital public health, teaching and research mission.

"We are filing suit to protect the rights of our members and the health of the patients they serve, but at the same time we will continue to look for ways to work cooperatively with the state to resolve this issue," says UUP president William E. Scheuerman, who is also an AFT vice president.

Two other unions also filed similar suits. Both the New York State Public Employees Federation/AFT and the Civil Service Employees Association represent hundreds of workers at the threatened facilities