Despite environment of budget cuts, CCP faculty threaten strike

Staff and professors at the Community College of Philadelphia are threatening to strike if the administration does not offer better health benefits than what is now on the table. 

The Community College of Philadelphia and its Faculty and Staff Federation have been negotiating a new contract for nearly 14 months.  Federation co-president John Braxton says higher insurance deductibles in the proposed contract would discourage staff from seeking medical care. He says these are hard times but CCP employees expect decent benefits. 

“People don’t teach here in order to get rich,” said Braxton. “We teach here because we like our subjects, we like our students and that kind of public service. And our part time teachers make a lot less and many of our classified employees make so little money that some of them are on food stamps.”

CCP employees are threatening to strike after spring break ends March 12th.

College spokesperson Linda Wallace says the administration is offering a reasonable benefits plan. 

“We have a fair and affordable proposal on the table that provides salary increases four of five years while also maintaining health benefits that are as good or better than other area nonprofits,” said Wallace.