Posts tagged Philadelphia Federation of Teachers
Philly teachers union and school district reach tentative contract agreement
August 26, 2025 // The agreement, if approved by the union's 14,000 members, would end the possibility of a teachers strike, which members had voted to authorize earlier this summer. As negotiations continued between the two sides in recent weeks, teachers were beginning to make picket signs in preparation for a potential work stoppage.
Philly teachers to hold ‘strike-ready prep events’ if deal with union not reached
August 18, 2025 // The School District of Philadelphia superintendent is optimistic bargaining with the teachers’ union will reach a successful conclusion. The 14,000-member teachers’ union voted to authorize a strike if a deal isn’t reached. The teachers’ union contract expires August 31, about a week after the first day of school.
Philadelphia teachers prepare for possible strike if a deal is not reached by Aug. 31
August 8, 2025 // The union is asking for an end to the school district's controversial sick leave policy, which it says punishes teachers for using sick days and requires them to meet with their principal after taking three days. The union also wants paid parental leave, extra pay for oversized classes and the restoration of school libraries. The union's president, Arthur Steinberg, said teachers don't want to go on strike, but the union, which represents nearly 14,000 teachers, is "not even close to working out a deal with the school district.
Philadelphia teachers have voted to authorize a strike. Here’s what to know
June 20, 2025 // Ten percent of the district’s budget comes from federal dollars, and the Trump administration has threatened various cuts to those funding streams. The district is also facing a fiscal shortfall of more than $300 million for 2026. Superintendent Tony Watlington and other officials decided to extract 40% of the district’s rainy day fund to cover the difference and stave off budget and programming cuts for one more year, but the deficit is set to keep ballooning in size. The district in March blamed inflation, employee salaries and benefits, and charter school payments for the growing expenses. The union has stood staunchly in opposition to charter expansion, with President Steinberg harshly criticizing the Board of Education for approving a new charter school in recent weeks.
Opinion: Unions should be about employees, not about politics
October 30, 2024 // In August, National Education Association President Becky Pringle told WHYY, Philadelphia’s NPR affiliate, that membership was “nearly evenly split between Democrats, Republicans, and independents.” Yet she drove her union — the country’s largest union, public or private — to endorse Harris. The Teamsters and IAFF demonstrate that the NEA and other unions can simply decline political endorsements that divide their members. After all, members don’t want a union focused on politics, but on core collective bargaining activities. Gallup polling reveals the top reasons employees join a labor union are “Better pay and benefits,” “Employee representation-Employee rights,” and “Job Security.”
Op-Ed: Union bosses or real estate moguls? Tracking the PFT’s finances
December 3, 2023 // Financial documents reveal that between excess cash in the benefit fund and dues collected from its membership, the PFT has spent over $12 million dollars to bail out its failed real estate endeavors. The Health and Welfare Fund paints a good picture of financial health. According to the latest financial disclosure which covers 2021, the Philadelphia School District deposited $65,133,008 into the fund. In total, the benefit fund brought in $9 million in excess revenue and holds a net financial position of $36 million. The Health and Welfare Fund’s financial position was so strong that it was able to dole out money – $4.8 million – to an entity known as the 1816 Chestnut Street Corporation (1816). This loan dates back over a decade. Investigative reports revealed that the Health and Welfare Fund loaned this money interest-free and without any terms of repayment. Today, the loan balance is the same, with no payments made and no interest accruing. What does 1816 have to do with providing health benefits to Philadelphia teachers? As it turns out, not much.
OPINION: Public sector union employees deserve more power over their leadership
May 15, 2023 // The attempt to alter the Pennsylvania Constitution by passing HB 950 will further diminish the rights of union members in favor of union executives. According to an analysis by the Commonwealth Foundation, government unions have spent more than $190 million on politics in Pennsylvania since 2007. In 2021-2022, government union PACs spent over $20 million in Pennsylvania, including $13.1 million directly to candidates and partisan PACs. More than 99% of the contributions to candidates for statewide office went to Democrats.
Americans for Fair Treatment: Member Spotlight: Rochelle Porto
February 6, 2023 // "The union does not stand up for kids, and I care about the children I teach and think we should do what’s best for them.”