Following more than a year of stalled contract negotiations, members of AFT Local 2026 at Community College of Philadelphia have voted 97% in favor of authorizing a strike. This follows the union’s ongoing efforts to secure higher wages, improved staffing levels, and free public transit access for students.
Union members had hoped recent bargaining sessions would yield meaningful progress. Instead, union officials said CCP’s offers over the past weekend failed to adequately address inflation, staffing shortages, and SEPTA passes for students.
“This vote sends a strong message to the college that their current offer is unacceptable and that our members are willing to do whatever it takes to secure fair pay and better working conditions, both for themselves and for our students,” said AFT Local 2026 Co-President Junior Brainard.
CCP faculty and staff have been working without a contract since August 2024. The union said it has held more than 30 bargaining sessions with CCP over the past 14 months.
A major point of contention is pay disparity. Part-time faculty at CCP previously earned wages comparable to those at other Philadelphia institutions, but the union claims their pay has since fallen behind. At Temple University, adjuncts have seen a 50% pay increase, now earning 25% more than CCP part-timers for teaching similar courses. Staff members are facing similar challenges.
“We have custodial staff who’ve been here for 20 years making $34,000,” said AFT 2026 Treasurer Jamie Zigarelli. “We are hemorrhaging people because the college isn’t keeping pace with the market. And the dedicated folks who remain are now doing the work of two people.”
The union continues to advocate for increased staffing across the college, both inside and outside the classroom. They are calling for additional advisors, counselors, librarians and faculty tutors, along with more IT, facilities and multimedia services staff to better support students.
The union said that last spring it worked alongside students and community groups to secure $5 million in additional funding from the City of Philadelphia to address staffing, class size and SEPTA passes. However, it says CCP has yet to implement proposals addressing these concerns.
Some students have joined the union’s efforts, emphasizing the importance of free public transit. “As a student, I know how much I would benefit from the money saved on transportation costs if we had free SEPTA passes,” said CCP student Sultan Smalley, who also cited the environmental benefits of public transit.
“In the event of a strike, classes could be canceled. If classes are canceled, students will be notified via email and text,” said Dr. Shannon Rooney, CCP’s vice president for enrollment management and strategic communications.
The union has emphasized that a strike would be a last resort if negotiations fail to deliver meaningful progress on these critical issues. No strike date has been set.
