Philadelphia School District and Workers Union Strike Deal, Avoid Layoffs
Late Wednesday night, the Philadelphia School District and its blue-collar workers’ union struck a tentative deal to avert layoffs. Had a deal not been reached, 500 of the union workers would have been laid off on July 15th, with the remaining 2,200 losing their jobs by the end of 2012. The deal—which still needs to be ratified—is a four-year agreement to privatization the jobs of members of 32BJ, Local 1201, which is comprised of bus aides, mechanics, cleaners, building engineers and other workers. [Inquirer]