Members of the faculty and staff at Community College of Philadelphia are voting this week to authorize a strike if contract negotiations with the college fail to meet their demands.
The union, AFT Local 2026, which represents about 1,200 members, is advocating for higher wages, improved staffing levels and free public transit for students. The strike vote began Monday and continues through this Saturday.
Union leaders say the decision to ask for authorization to strike follows more than a year of stalled negotiations and over 100 hours spent at the bargaining table. Faculty and staff have been working without a contract since August 2024.
Community College of Philadelphia requested a fact-finding panel from the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board on March 6. This panel, consisting of a neutral third party, will evaluate both sides’ proposals and provide recommendations for resolving the dispute.
“We remain confident that our proposals provide fair terms and wage increases for all, while maintaining best-in-class medical benefits at no or low cost to employees,” said Dr. Shannon Rooney, the college’s vice president for enrollment management and strategic communications. “To protect our students from the harm that would come from a strike, especially so close to graduation, we have filed a request for appointment of a fact-finding panel with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board.”
“The college is committed to negotiating in good faith with the faculty and staff federation to reach an agreement and prevent disruption to our students’ education,” Rooney added.
CCP serves a working-class student population that is nearly 70% women and 73% students of color, most of whom are Black.
Key disputes
The college has proposed a 5% wage increase in the first year, followed by 4% increases in each of the next two years. The union is pushing for a 9% raise in the first year, citing inflation and the increased cost of living in Philadelphia.
According to MIT’s living wage calculator, an adult with one child would need to earn over $91,000 annually to make a living wage in the city — an amount most full-time faculty and staff do not reach.
“As a CCP staff member, I’m making over $20,000 less than what CCP is advertising,” said Myles Hinsey, a multimedia technician at CCP.
Union members are urging the college to hire more faculty, counselors, librarian and IT support staff to better serve students.
The union is also advocating for CCP to join SEPTA’s Key Advantage program, which provides students with free public transit access. The college has countered that the annual cost of the program is currently unaffordable.
Community support
Union members were joined by local politicians, labor organizations, students and community members as they announced their strike authorization vote earlier this week.
“CCP educates more Philadelphians than any other institution,” said City Councilmember Rue Landau. “This isn’t just a labor issue. It’s an issue of equity, opportunity and justice.”
Philadelphia City Councilmember Kendra Brooks, a CCP graduate and parent of two CCP students, voiced her support for the union’s demands. “After a year of negotiations, you deserve a fair contract,” Brooks said.
A strike authorization does not guarantee a work stoppage but empowers union leadership to call for one if progress in negotiations stalls. If a strike occurs, it would likely halt all college classes at the main campus, regional centers, and community-based sites. The fact-finder’s recommendations are expected to be made public in several weeks.
