Calling upon the School Reform Commission to acknowledge the vital importance of SEIU 32BJ 1201 School District employees to public education and our local economy by bargaining in good faith with SEIU 32BJ and quickly resolve the negotiations to prevent the layoffs of 2,700 School District employees; calling upon Governor Corbett and the General Assembly to restore critical funding to public education for Philadelphia and public school districts across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; urging the School Reform Commission to enter into a fair collective bargaining agreement which treats the school district workers fairly and ensures a safe and clean learning environment for the children of Philadelphia; and resolving that City Council should not move forward any proposed School Reform Commission budget plan until an agreement is reached between the SEIU 32BJ and the School Reform Commission.

WHEREAS, All SEIU 32BJ District 1201 school workers are critical to keeping students safe and focused on learning - they drive our kids to school, keep the schools running and keep the schools safe and clean; and

WHEREAS, All the 2,700 School District of Philadelphia employees in SEIU 32BJ District 1201 have received lay off notices that will take effect commencing July 1, 2012; and

WHEREAS, The state budget cuts implemented by Governor Tom Corbett results in cutting off a critical supply of good jobs to communities already reeling from high unemployment; and

WHEREAS, School district employees in SEIU 32BJ District 1201 are bargaining in good faith to cut costs, save good jobs and provide Philadelphia school children with a safe, clean, learning environment; and

WHEREAS, Public education needs to be properly funded and should never be dismantled for the sake of further privatization and corporatization schemes; and

WHEREAS, The funding crisis in our schools was not caused by the hard-working employees of the School District of Philadelphia, but the inequity of funding and massive cuts by Governor Tom Corbett in recent years; and

WHEREAS, SEIU 32BJ has the united support of the labor movement and our community as exemplified by the historic march and demonstration held on May 23, 2012; and

WHEREAS, Public education is the great equalizer in our society and fundamental to our democracy; therefore be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby calls upon the School Reform Commission to acknowledge the vital importance of SEIU 32BJ 1201 School District employees to public education and our local economy by bargaining in good faith with SEIU 32BJ, and quickly resolve the negotiations to prevent the layoffs of 2,700 School District employees; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the City Council calls upon Governor Corbett and the General Assembly to restore critical funding to public education for Philadelphia and public school districts across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the City Council urges the School Reform Commission to enter into a fair collective bargaining agreement which treats the School District workers fairly and ensures a safe and clean learning environment for the children of Philadelphia; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the City Council should not move forward on any proposed School Reform Commission budget plan until an agreement is reached between the SEIU 32BJ and the School Reform Commission; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, That a true and correct copy of this resolution be sent to the School Reform Commission, Mayor Michael A. Nutter and Governor Thomas W. Corbett.

End