PA House-Senate appoint committee chairs

The Pennsylvania House and Senate have named the following legislators as majority and minority chairs of their committees. The retirements and election losses brought major leadership changes to several committees.

12K PA students get debt relief in settlement

Attorney General Shapiro announces for-profit college company will provide $493 million in debt relief for over 179,000 students nationwide. 12,600 Pennsylvania students will have $38.6 million in education debt relieved.

Educators at Pittsburgh Charter School Win Union

PITTSBURGH - Educators at Environmental Charter School here have in December for union representation in an official ballot conducted by the National Labor Relations Board.

A clear majority of ECS teachers and other professionals elected to unionize after signing a petition last month stating their desire to join the American Federation of Teachers. Voter turnout was 100 percent.

New Foundations Charter School ratifies first union contract

Teachers and support staff at New Foundations Charter School in Philadelphia ratified their first union contract unanimously after 11 months of negotiations. The faculty and staff voted to join the Alliance of Charter School Employees, Local 6056 of the American Federation of Teachers, AFT Pennsylvania, in 2017. 

2019 PA Legislative Session Dates

The Pennsylvania Senate and House have announced their session days for the 2019 Regular Legislative Session. Governor Wolf will make his fifth budget address before a joint session of the House and Senate on Tuesday, February 5. The state constitution requires the legislature to pass a budget by June 30.

Coalition fights to raise PA's minimum wage

A coalition of community and labor groups and legislators continued its statewide campaign to raise the minimum wage in Pennsylvania, arguing that the $7.25 an hour minimum leaves working families with incomes below the poverty line.