Teachers and houseparents at Girard College in Philadelphia ended their 136-day strike this month under a court order. But they were back in court last week to challenge what they said were unilateral changes in their salaries by the administration.
‘Very Far Apart’
A union leader for the 78 teachers and staff members at the private elementary and secondary boarding school said that the two sides were still “very far apart” in the contract negotiations.
Teachers said they were told that they would receive only 56 percent of their salaries for the rest of the school year, said Joseph Fitzmartin, the leader of one of the school’s two Philadelphia Federation of Teachers chapters.
The teachers and houseparents returned to the 450-student private school at the start of the spring semester on Feb. 6.
Common Pleas Court Judge Stanley M. Greenberg ordered the two sides to negotiate weekly with a state mediator, but no new negotiations have started.
Judge Greenberg and the state mediator, Edward Pheean, heard the union’s complaints about the contract and 15 other matters last week. Judge Greenberg was to issue another order by the end of the week.--ce
