Philly Teachers Union Tells Staff Not To Go To Work Monday

PHILADELPHIA — The School District of Philadelphia recently announced its plans to get a certain number of students back into school buildings.

Feb. 22 is the day prekindergarten through second-grade students will be in classrooms two days a week, officials said last week.

And Monday is when teachers are scheduled to return to their school buildings to prepare for in-person learning.

However, district teachers are being instructed not to show up on Monday.

Philadelphia Federation of Teachers President Jerry Jordan told teachers not to return to schools amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"School buildings are scheduled to reopen on Monday, and I am unable to assure their safety for reoccupancy," he said. "It's that simple."

Superintendent William Hite Jr. said he was disappointed with the union's call to members.

"This is in violation of our collective bargaining agreement and the Memorandum of Agreement that PFT reached regarding the reopening of schools just a few months ago," he said. "What is more troubling is that this action directly impacts our efforts to support the more than 9,000 PreK to second grade families who want their children to return to school buildings for in-person learning."

According to the city, "education providers" are part of the 1B phase of the city's vaccine rollout plan as they are considered in high risk, essential positions.

While 1B vaccinations are underway, health officials expect a months-long process for vaccinating those populations.

According to Action News, Jordan told teachers to stay home but continue to work remotely.

Jordan said he is "disgusted" at the move to put teachers back into school buildings with no word on when educators will be vaccinated and said the union does not believe outlined safety conditions have been met.

"Make no mistake: my members want to be in school buildings doing the job they love- when it is safe to do so," he said. "And right now, it's not."

Jordan also chided the use of bi-directional window fans to increased ventilation in classroom.

"We have repeatedly asked for real, concrete solutions, and instead have been presented with a dangerous window-fan installation program that further jeopardizes the health and safety of our educators and young people," he said. "This 'solution' is offensive, and it speaks volumes about the overall approach to reopening buildings at all costs."

He said entire schools have maximum occupancy of zero according to air balancing reports.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, a spokesperson for the city said officials "hope the parties abide by the findings and recommendations of the mediator since this is precisely why such a provision was included in the agreement."

"We remain committed to doing everything we can to move forward with the slow and careful return to in-person learning, and hope the mediation process will begin soon so we can all focus our full attention on supporting the needs of our students and families," Hite said.