Philly principals set new dates to vote on contract

(NewsWorks file)

(NewsWorks file)

Less than a week after abruptly canceling a contract vote, the union representing Philadelphia principals and administrators has agreed to a new set of voting dates.

Rather than vote all at once, members of Teamsters Local 502 of the Commonwealth Association of School Administrators will be able to cast their ballots at one of three meetings — Wednesday, Thursday or Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the CASA office on North Broad Street. Members must vote in person during one of the three sessions.

The union was set to vote on a new, four-year contract at a meeting on June 1, but members pressed leadership for more details. Many wanted to see the specific salary schedules associated with the proposed contract, said president Robert McGrogan. The union has since published those details after consulting with the school district.

Members also wanted to be sure their salaries would be paid out over 12 months, even though under the new agreement they would only work 11 months out of the year. McGrogan said a 12-month payment system protects employees who make automatic monthly payments or are having their wages garnished in some fashion. Under their current contract, Philadelphia principals and administrators work 10 months out of the year.

  • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

At this week’s meetings, members will vote on a contract that includes a 3 percent bonus and modest pay increases for some employees. In 2014, CASA agreed to steep concessions in order to save the cash-strapped school district roughly $20 million. This time around, the district has a small surplus to work with, even though it still faces long-term financial woes.

McGrogan characterized the new contract as a small step in the right direction after a round of brutal cuts.

“Compared to other things going on in the district, I think its a good deal,” he said.

CASA’s current contract expires at the end of August.

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal