Blue-Collar School Employees Plan Budget Protest In Center City
By Mike DeNardo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Look for a crowd in the middle of the city, in the middle of the day.
Blue-collar school district workers are planning a noontime rally against education cuts, at Philadelphia's Municipal Services Building. The union representing school bus drivers, and maintenance workers, SEIU 32BJ, joins other school unions in a rally and march against state budget cuts and the School Reform Commission's austerity plan.
32BJ State Director Gabe Morgan says his union has been negotiating concessions with the school district -- but he says ultimately, that's not the way to solve the budget crisis.
"The solution to this problem is not to lay off workers, shut down schools and privatize the system. The solution to the problem is to actually restore school funding."
The protest begins at the Municipal Services Building, with a march to the School Reform Commission headquarters at 440 N. Broad.
Union leaders say the protest is not intended to disrupt school bus service, but the school district on its website warns parents that afternoon bus routes may be delayed.
