College to reopen tomorrow; Brady gets credit

Students at Community College of Philadelphia can thank marathon talks - and an assist from U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, a mayoral candidate - for a tentative agreement reached between the school and its striking staff.

The five-year agreement, reached yesterday afternoon, calls for average annual raises of more than 3 percent for all of CCP's staff, and allows students to return to class tomorrow.

"I feel good that we've come back with a package that has more money in it than what we left the table with two weeks ago [when the union went on strike]," said John Braxton, co-president of CCP's faculty-and-staff federation. "To me, that's a victory."

Braxton said all college faculty and staff will receive an immediate raise of about 3.75 percent, which would equal an annual raise of about $2,000 for a faculty member who makes $55,000 a year.

"Also, we were able to negotiate a bonus," Braxton said. "We haven't worked out the details yet, but it figures to be several hundred dollars per individual."

Braxton also said the union didn't suffer any harmful givebacks to its current health-care coverage.

"Most important thing was that we are still not having to pay any of our health-care premiums for full-time employees," Braxton said.

CCP representatives believe that the school stood firm and that the contract agreed upon was similar to the one the college proposed weeks ago.

"The average wage increase was the same, I understand, as what the college has been saying is its last and final offer," said CCP spokesman Anthony Twyman, who noted that the school's regular faculty and support staff ratified the contract late last night.

A settlement had been in doubt until Brady became involved, Braxton said.

Brady "really did play a very important role," Braxton said, noting that the lawmaker's involvement ranged from making a slew of phone calls to talking to both sides about the issues. "If he didn't get involved, we wouldn't have a settlement."

Brady's involvement came at a time when his mayoral campaign faces a legal challenge aimed at tossing him off the ballot in the May Democratic primary.

Twyman said that students can return to class tomorrow; he also said that all faculty, including library and support staff, would be back at work today.