School Reform Commission Imposes Work Rules on Philadelphia Teachers

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — In a sweeping, unilateral move, the Philadelphia School Reform Commission today announced that it was imposing work terms on the city’s unionized public schoolteachers, effectively canceling its contract with the teachers’ union.

Saying the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers has not shared in the sacrifices of that other school district employees have made — including blue-collar workers and principals — School Reform Commission chair Bill Green said the SRC is exercising powers given to it by state law to cancel the teachers’ contract.

“We will take what we believe to be the most fair and least onerous of poor choices,” Green said. “Employee contributions to health care will change.”