Court battle continues for University of the Arts employees still waiting for their final paychecks

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Workers left jobless by last month’s sudden closure of the University of the Arts are continuing the legal push for their final paychecks.

In court on Wednesday, University of the Arts attorney Kristine Grady told a federal judge that while there are no promises, the shuttered school expected to arrange funding to give its employees the 60 days of pay they are entitled to.

The University of the Arts closed abruptly on June 7 with only a few days’ notice. The employees claim the school violated the federal WARN Act by failing to give workers 60 days’ notice before it closed.

Faculty union attorney Eric Lechtzin said the court battle will go on until the workers are paid.

“[The school is] trying to raise the money to pay the claims, but they haven’t. And until we’re assured of their ability to pay a settlement, the case is going to have to march on,” he declared.

Adjunct professor Rick Rein is among the 700 former employees waiting for their 60 days of pay.

“Because of the black hole of information at the center of this, we don’t know — just as they said — whether or not they’ll actually be able to do it,” said Rein. “That is the firmest statement we’ve gotten so far. It is nice to hear them say on the record, ‘We do intend to fulfill our duty here.’”

Judge Chad Kenney scheduled another conference in the case for Aug. 12.