– Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Rules That School Reform Commission (SRC) Cannot Cancel Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) Contract

By The PA. AFL-CIO

– In a significant judicial victory for organized labor, the Commonwealth Court, on Thursday, January 23, affirmed a lower court ruling which had rejected the unilateral cancellation of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers’ collective bargaining agreement by the School Reform Commission.

PFT President Jerry Jordan stated that the decision by Commonwealth Court affirms what we have been saying for months: The School Reform Commission’s move last October to unilaterally cancel the PFT contract was unjust and a blatant violation.

“The decision is a victory for collective bargaining and the notion that contracts between parties should be negotiated not imposed,” Jordan said in a statement released by the union.

The PFT is calling on the school district to immediately resume negotiations. “It’s time to redirect the energy and resources wasted on litigation to negotiating a contract that will ensure our schoolchildren and educators are given the best possible tools for teaching and learning,” Jordan stated.

PA AFL-CIO President Rick Bloomingdale congratulated President Jordan and the PFT on “this important judicial victory for working people. This is a fair and just decision that defends and recognizes our collective bargaining rights. It maintains a level field of play between both sides,” Bloomingdale said.

PA AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Frank Snyder stated that this decision is “important to school teachers and workers in school districts throughout Pennsylvania who are having to deal with the failed policies and underfunding and of public education by the previous administration. We are joining with all of our unions in pushing for restoration of the cuts and support for policies that support our students and improve educational opportunities,” Snyder said.

Source: http://www.paaflcio.org/?p=5736