– “The School Reform Commission voted yesterday to unilaterally impose contract terms on the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers. The Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO believes that this action is an outrage. Leaders at the SRC have spoken frequently about the need for everyone to work together to solve the District’s problems. But today Superintendent Hite, Chairman Green, and the rest of the SRC abandoned that pledge. Instead of working with the PFT through the collective bargaining process, the SRC has simply said, “Take it or leave it.”

The School District needs the collective dedication, wisdom, and input of all of its employees to solve the problems caused by Governor Corbett and the SRC. The best way to encourage that dedication, and get that wisdom and input, is through bargaining in good faith with the teachers’ elected representatives. Where I come from, what the SRC did yesterday is a destruction of collective bargaining. The labor movement in Philadelphia sees this for what it is, and we’re ready to support the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, however they choose to respond to this outrageous decision.”