[dovate.com] » Pinkertons called in to bust CCP strike
Pinkertons called in to bust CCP strike
PHILADELPHIA - After talks broke down late Monday, Community College of Philadelphia president Stephen Curtis watched helplessly as his teachers and staff walked off their jobs and took to the picket lines. “It was awful.” Recounted Curtis. “I didn’t know what to do. I usually have all the power here and suddenly I was powerless.”
That’s when the CCP President decided to call in the Pinkertons. “I wasn’t sure if they were still around. But there they were in the Yellow Pages. I called immediately.”
Wednesday morning, as the aging, professors buckled up their sandals for another day of strikes, the Pinkertons descended on the scene. Donning dark blue suits and bowler style hats, 50 mustached men on horseback paraded up Spring Garden Avenue, yelling threats and spitting on strikers as they arrived.
“They stood between us and these scab workers that they harvested from local graduate schools.” recounted biology professor Ralph Piles. “They told me that if I intervened, they’d split my skull open.”
Violence did erupt briefly as a team of Pinkertons threw English professor Judith Adler to the ground after she refused to let a scab professor pass. In a separate incident, an administrative worker was reportedly kicked in the head by a horse. The worker – who was not named – and Adler were taken to Jefferson Hospital late Wednesday afternoon. This evening, they were both listed in critical but stable condition.
Although it was unclear who initiated the violence with Adler, the Pinkerton tactic of intimidation has been extremely effective. “What can we do?” asked a frail, flabbergasted professor.
The rest of the day passed without incident as the strike was strong-armed into virtual submission. Mayor Street could not be reached for comment.
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