WHEREAS, Pennsylvania Governor, Tom Corbett has cut $1 billion from education statewide, and

WHEREAS, twenty-four schools in Philadelphia have been closed, and

WHEREAS, over 3,000 educators, including counselors, school nurses, and certified librarians have been laid off and schools will be experiencing burgeoning class sizes, and

WHEREAS, the $133 million dollars in concessions the Philadelphia school district is demanding from teachers and school support personnel will hurt the education of the children of Philadelphia, and

WHEREAS, the school district is demanding wage cuts of 5 to 13 percent and despite the fact that the PFT, has offered to freeze wages for a year and to contribute to their health care plan, the district said it was not enough, be it

RESOLVED, the UFT work with the AFT, and the PFT and parents, in securing a contract that’s good for students and fair for teachers, and be it further

RESOLVED, that the UFT work with the AFT by supporting the PFT in calling for a restoration of all education cuts, and be it further 

RESOLVED, that the UFT work with the AFT and extend our solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Philadelphia and join with them in calling for all laid off educators to be brought back, and be it further

RESOLVED, that the UFT will work with the AFT to support our sister local, and be it further

RESOLVED, that the UFT, who has fought against school closures in NYC, add our voice to the fight against school closures in Philadelphia.