Tentative Deal cut between Philadelphia School District and union

A tentative agreement has been reached between the financially-strapped Philadelphia School District and unions representing janitors, bus drivers and other support personel.  

The agreement between the Philadelphia School District and Local 32 BJ of the Service Employees International Union includes major concessions by the union in order to stave off the layoffs that were set to begin later this month.

Evelyn Sample-Oates of the school district says details of the pact are not available until the union and School Reform Commission approve it.

“As you know we are dealing with a big deficit and this will save the district a lot of money and also save jobs with this union, that would be a good thing with the school district,” said Sample-Oates.

On July 24th 362 members of the union are set to be terminated and Sample-Oates says until a deal is approved by both sides, those layoffs are still in effect.

“An agreement will now give them an opportunity to look at where we are with dollars,” she said. “If we lay off any how many we lay off and where we go from there.”

The union has decided not to talk about the deal until it’s presented to its members.