Few were able to make it to the last-minute School Reform Commission (SRC) meeting on Monday morning at 9:30 a.m, Oct. 6. The meeting was announced in a small advertisement in the back of the business section of the Philadelphia Inquirer on Sunday. Without taking public comments, the SRC quickly and unanimously exercised what Chairman Bill Green called its “extremely broad powers” to end the School District of Philadelphia’s contract with one of the city’s most prominent unions — the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT).

The plan would cut nearly $45 million from teachers' health care benefits to increase funds for schools. Starting Dec. 15, around 15,000 teachers and staff in Philadelphia schools who are members of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers could see between $21 and $70 less for each bi-weekly paycheck. Previously, members did not pay health care costs, and the new move would require teachers to pay 10 to 13 percent of their plans without a pay raise. 

The teachers who the plan would affect were not able to make the 9:30 a.m. meeting on a school day to comment.

“Every other meeting, speakers come first. When I wanted to speak on this resolution, I couldn’t do it,” said Lisa Haver of the Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools. “That’s a clear violation of the Sunshine Act.”

The Sunshine Act requires government agencies to give public notice of meetings (24 hours for special meetings) and allow for comment. 

“During these 21 months, negotiations have moved in the wrong direction,” Green said shortly before voting to end the contract. Advocates said that the PFT had put health care concessions on the table before, but the district did not negotiate. For the past few years, teachers have not seen pay raises, and education activists said that the district saved money as a result.

Green argued that the PFT was not cooperating like “blue collar workers” who took 10 percent salary reductions. Activists said that custodial workers had no choice and faced layoffs if they did not accept pay reductions. 

"Every single stakeholder has stepped up to help the district close its structural deficit," Green said. "Families and children have, too, through the loss of resources, increased class sizes, and lack of materials. It is time for the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers to share in the sacrifice."

State-wide budget cuts, however, have directly affected teachers, who are often parents of public school students themselves, in terms of mass layoffs, overcrowded classrooms, few support staff and limited classroom resources.

“They’re pitting teachers against students and families. Students become teachers in many cases, and teachers send their own children to public schools,” Erica Darken of Teacher Action Group said. “You can’t cut us up and separate us that way.”

Governor Tom Corbett, who appointed Green earlier this year, said that he approved the SRC's move to end PFT's contract.