Philly Rallies for Public School Teachers and Schools
Protestors shut down Broad Street, Philadelphia's main thoroughfare.
Photograph by Jessica Kourkounis for Education Week (additional photos below)
October 16, 2014 -- Philadelphia: Community members from various sectors demonstrated a week after the city's School Reform Commission (SRC) announced, without notice or discussion, that it was not going to honor Philadelphia's public school teachers' contracts {collectively bargained between the city and the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT)} after the end of this school year. "That's 16,000 teachers who will be forced to accept terms that are dictated to them by the SRC," Philadelphia JLC Director Michael Hersch told us.
Photograph courtesy Philadelphia JLC
At least five local Philadelphia JLC board members were at the demonstration, including Jeff Brown (AFSCME/PSEA), Valerie Braman (AFT), Sylvia Lieberman (PFT), Jesse Kudler (Fight for Philly), and Mindy Isser (Fight for Philly); also represented by six people, including their local Director, Pele Irgangladen, Habonim Dror, the Labor Zionist youth movement.
Hersch reported that the SRC, which took this drastic measure, alleged that PFT refused to make concessions - patently untrue, according to Hilary Linardopolous, representative of the PFT.
Between 3,000 and 5,000 protestors representing many unions and activist groups were on hand; estimates vary widely.
He noted that "this was the largest rally on behalf of Philadelphia teachers that I've witnessed in the last four years," and added that "this comes during a year where Philadelphia has already lost dozens of public schools to closures for insufficient funding."
For more information, contact the Philadelphia JLC at mhersch@comcast.net.
Photograph courtesy Philadelphia JLC