Deadline Comes And Goes With No New Contract For Philadelphia School Teachers
By Mike DeNardo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The midnight deadline came and went Saturday, but there was no new contract between the Philadelphia School District and its teachers union. More talks were set for Sunday.
The two sides made some progress, says Philadelphia Federation of Teachers president Jerry Jordan -- but not enough to reach a tentative agreement. Jordan says several difficult issues remain on the table.
Technically right now teachers will work under the terms of the old contract. But the district is seeking a new deal with concessions, including wage cuts of between 5 and 13 percent.
The union has offered to accept a pay freeze, and to agree to changes in health coverage, but the district has said that gesture falls well short of the $103 million in savings it needs.
The 15,000-member PFT has a membership meeting slated for Monday night. Teachers are scheduled to report Tuesday.
