Strike averted at the Community College of Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (WPHL) — No strike among faculty and staff at Community College of Philadelphia will take place on Wednesday as administrators with the institution and the American Federation of Teachers Local 2026 came to an agreement hours before the March 26, 7 a.m. deadline.

More than 1,200 employees were planning to hit the picket lines if a new contract was not agreed to. Their previous contract expired in August 2024, but negotiations have been in the works for nearly 15 months. 

“As an educator and a teacher, my concern is with the students, especially students who are in transition, students who are graduating,” said Dr. Anyabwile Love, a Black Studies professor at CCP, who said he supports his union. “I’m hopeful because I know it would create disruption for the student body as well.”

Higher pay, better benefits, and job security were the final points both parties were working through the night to come to terms with. The latest proposal from CCP was a three-year contract with a 5% raise in the first year and a 4% raise in the second and third years. That would give employees an hourly pay raise from $20 to $21 then $22. The offer was a far cry from the four-year contract the union demanded with a 9% raise in Years 1 and 2 and an additional 6% raise in Years 3 and 4. 

The union was also fighting for benefits for students, including childcare and free student transportation.

“We support our teachers because this is for us too,” said Blake Fontaine, a nursing student at CCP. She rides the bus to school. “Not only are they trying to get child care for students that come here, but they’re also fighting for free Septa passes, which is understandable since high school and elementary schools get it, so why not give it to the college kids to promote them more to want to attend classes and stuff like that, so I definitely understand.”

School administrators said free student transportation would cost $2.2 million annually, which the community college couldn’t afford according to Action News at 10.

Details within the new contract are expected to be released soon. 

As for classes, students and faculty will continue as planned.