Philly Principals' Union Rejects School District Contract Agreement

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- It's back to the drawing board.  The union representing Philadelphia's public school principals has overwhelmingly rejected a tentative contract agreement.

Teamsters Local 502 president Rob McGrogan says his members turned down the deal decisively Wednesday night.

"We did not do a physical count once it became evident that it was an overwhelming rejection of the current proposed contract."

After taking 16 percent pay cuts in their last deal, the tentative agreement would have given the union's 490 members some raises with a three percent bonus. But McGrogan says it was about more than money -- it was about extra responsibilities with no extra help.

"We had very spirited discussions about the classification of schools -- the number of responsibilities that administrators have to perform in the absence of having other staff to do it."

Superintendent William Hite released a statement saying the district was "deeply disappointed" by the rejection.  No new talks are scheduled.  The union's current contract runs through the end of August.

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• Philadelphia School District
• Philadelphia