By
The Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA - The nation's sixth-largest school district braced for a strike as early as Friday after Philadelphia teachers authorized what would be their first walkout in 19 years.
Union president Ted Kirsch did not immediately call a strike and classes were still scheduled to begin tomorrow for the district's 205,000 students and 256 schools.
However, the unanimous vote yesterday by the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers means its 21,000 members could walk off the job once the union gives 48 hours' notice as required under state law.
"No one wants this strike," said teacher Cynthia Acquarole. "It breaks my heart that education will not continue in this city as it has in the past."
Contact talks broke down over the weekend but were scheduled to resume yesterday afternoon.
The union has rejected district proposals to extend the school day and school year, increase co-payments for health insurance, base pay on performance rather than experience and level of education, and give principals more say in teacher job assignments.
The union, which says its teachers earned between $28,600 and $57,200 in 1997-98, wants smaller classes, stronger early childhood education, a new reading program and tighter school security.
School system officials have said they will face an $80 million shortfall in their $1.6 billion budget even without granting pay raises the union says are needed to keep talented educators in the city.
