Philadelphia Federation of Teachers President Jerry Jordan Says Firm Has the Expertise Unions Need

Coming from a family of public school educators, Jerry Jordan followed in the footsteps of his grandparents, an uncle, aunts and cousins when he chose education as his career, teaching high school Spanish and English as a Second Language in the Philadelphia School District.

Believing that teachers needed a strong voice to advocate for their rights, in 1987, Jordan joined the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers as a district staff representative. He held positions of increasing responsibility over the years, and in 2008, was elected president of the Federation.

A member of the union’s negotiating team since 1992 and its chief negotiator since 2000, Jordan has worked together with Managing Partner Deborah Willig, partner Ralph Teti, and the team at Willig, Williams & Davidson to secure strong contracts to protect Philadelphia teachers.

“What I like most about the firm is that you can find the expertise there that you need,” said Jordan. “The union work that we do, when people’s lives depend on the union really representing them and making sure they and their families have the best opportunities at the workplace, having a law firm that has the expertise that Willig, Williams & Davidson has makes all the difference in the world in the outcomes.”

He continued, “When management attempts to abridge the rights of the worker, Willing, Williams & Davidson has always been there in order to fight with us to make sure that things are better for our members.”

Today, the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers represents more than 13,000 teachers, librarians, school nurses, counselors, psychologists and social workers, secretaries, paraprofessionals, classroom assistants, non-teaching assistants, supportive services assistants, Head Start/Comprehensive Early Learning Center and Bright Futures teachers and staff, food service managers and professional and technical employees.