Hundreds rally to save Philly school district jobs

    Fourteen demonstrators were arrested Wednesday afternoon on Broad Street, outside the offices of the Philadelphia School District. The arrests capped a rally of more than a thousand members of SEIU Local 32BJ and their supporters to protest layoffs.

    School bus attendant Belinda Dell said that she received a layoff notice, effective the end of this year.

    “I’ve worked for the school district of Philadelphia for 27 years and I think it’s a disgrace that they are trying to get rid of our jobs,” she said.

    Police arrested 11 men and three women for refusing to leave the street. Arrests also occurred during a coordinated rally in Pittsburgh.School district spokesman Fernando Gallard says the district is engaged “in good faith efforts to come to an agreement on changes that will result in savings necessary to continue to support educational programs in schools.”

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