Philadelphia's public school system is asking the state Supreme Court to reverse a lower court ruling that bars it from unilaterally imposing health care costs on unionized teachers.
The School District of Philadelphia and its School Reform Commission said Monday that the Commonwealth Court erred when it sided with a teachers' union that argued imposing costs must be negotiated during collective bargaining.
Teachers have been working under the provisions of an expired contract that includes free health benefits. District leaders voted to cancel the deal Oct. 6, saying they couldn't afford it.
A local judge issued an injunction to prevent the School Reform Commission from enforcing the changes, which would save $200 million over four years. The Commonwealth Court upheld that ruling last month.
