The Community College of Philadelphia and the union representing faculty and staff reached a tentative agreement on a new contract, hours before a strike was scheduled to commence.
The agreement includes significant wage increases, more staffing, smaller class sizes and free transportation for students, according to the union’s release.
“We showed what can happen when faculty, staff and students stand in real solidarity with each other,” Union Co-President Rainah Chambliss said in a release from the union, AFT Local 2026.
AFT Local 2026 represents around 1,200 members, including full-time faculty, adjunct professors and staff. It has been working without a contract since last August, and bargaining between the college and the union had been ongoing for 14 months, according to the union.
A strike authorization vote earlier this month saw 97% of participating members in favor of the action. Union members planned to begin the strike at 7 a.m. this morning if a deal had not been reached.
CCP has said on its website that today’s classes, work and activities are going on as scheduled.
“Our membership represents everyone from the lowest-paid classified employee to the highest-paid faculty member, and all of our members stuck together to fight for each other and the common good,” AFT2026 Co-President Junior Brainard said.
Members of the union are set to vote on the tentative agreement next week.
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