Max P. Hassel
March 17, 2025
A strike at the Community College of Philadelphia (CCP) is no longer just a possibility—it is imminent. A member of the Faculty and Staff Federation of CCP (FSFCCP) confirmed that “More than a supermajority of Faculty and Staff working at the college this semester voted. Of the people who voted, all of whom must be members, 97% voted yes.”
If a strike begins, students will face several disruptions. All classes will be put on hold until contract agreements are reached and the strike ends. Students may experience delays in receiving grades for their coursework. College President Dr. Generals has promised that graduates will walk the stage in May, but this promise would be in vain if classes remain unfinished. While campus buildings will likely remain open, services such as the Learning Lab and advising offices may be limited. Canvas and Outlook emails for faculty will be shut down, further complicating communication between students and their instructors.
These disruptions are why student support is vital. The strike aims to secure better conditions that directly impact students, including subsidized SEPTA TransPasses, improved counseling and advising services, and proper staffing to provide academic stability on and off campus.
Throughout this bargaining cycle, Dr. Generals has given conflicting statements about CCP’s financial standing. While he claims the college faces financial hardship, he has also declared CCP is in the best financial position the college has ever been in. The college currently holds over $80 million in reserves, yet Dr. Generals insists that half of these funds must remain untouched for emergencies. Despite the other tens of millions available in reserve, the CCP Foundation, and newly issued from City Hall, the administration refuses to invest in common-sense, hardly gainful improvements.
Students concerned about their education and future at CCP can take several steps to support the strike and advocate for their needs. Joining the picket line shows solidarity with faculty and staff by joining protests on campus. Students can publicly pressure CCP administrators to prioritize funding for student services and fair faculty contracts. The Independent encourages students to share their stories about how issues like transit costs, inadequate advising, large class sizes, lack of on-campus childcare, understaffed facilities impact their education.
The overwhelming strike authorization vote signals that faculty and staff have exhausted other options. Now, students must decide whether to idly stand by or join the movement for a better CCP?
Drawing by Jaritsa Hernandez-Orsini
The Independent 
Leave a comment