Press | AFT Pennsylvania

AFT Pennsylvania Announces Back-To-School Grants from AFT to Local Unions In Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Bucks County

AFT Pennsylvania President Arthur G. Steinberg announced $55,000 in grant funds that four of its local unions—Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers Local 400, United Staff of the Day School Local 1372, Green Tree Federation of Teachers Local 4802, and Neshaminy Federation of Teachers Local 1417—have received as part of the American Federation of Teachers’ Real Solutions for Kids and Communities campaign to strengthen public schools by rejecting extremists’ toxic attacks in favor of innovative, scalable solutions to tackle learning loss and loneliness, and to make literacy, mental health, career pathways and affordable college national priorities.

Arthur Steinberg Testimony to Basic Education Funding Commission

Find Arthur's testimony here...

Remarks at PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center’s Press Conference as prepared

For decades, our union, the American Federation of Teachers, and our locals—including my home local of Philadelphia—has been on the frontlines of the fight to rid our water pipes of lead. This fight was renewed after the reveal of the lead crisis in Flint, Michigan in 2015.

AFTPA President Arthur Steinberg Statement on Governor Shapiro Signing FY23-24 Budget

Plymouth Meeting, PA– Arthur Steinberg, President of AFT Pennsylvania, issued the following statement on behalf of the more than 36,000 educators, paraprofessionals, school staff, higher education faculty, and state workers after PA Governor Josh Shapiro signed the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 state budget into law:

“We are pleased that Governor Shapiro has signed a budget that does not include vouchers.

“We are grateful to the Democratic Majority in the House and Democrats in the Senate who stood firm against pressure to hand out public money to private schools and wealthy Pennsylvanians in

Arthur Steinberg speaks on the steps of South Philadelphia High School flanked by Democratic state legislators.

Remarks at Save Our Schools Press Conference as prepared – July 31, 2023

Good afternoon.

I’m incredibly encouraged to see the Pennsylvania House Speaker in a Philadelphia public school, something that hasn’t happened in a very long time. And Speaker Joanna McClinton and the Democratic Leadership Team should be commended for their steadfast support of public education at a time when it’s under sustained attack by right-wing politicians and the oligarchy.

I’ll be honest—it angered me to read the theme of this press conference, “Save Our Schools” because if the necessary investments in

Statement On Legislative Leaders’ Decision Not To Appeal Commonwealth Court School Funding Ruling

“Now that legislative leaders have tacitly acknowledged that our system of funding education violates the Pennsylvania Constitution, they have a duty to do right by Pennsylvania’s children and communities. Not only is this a moral duty, but a legal obligation prescribed by the Commonwealth Court."

AFTPA President Arthur Steinberg Statement on Pennsylvania’s Failure to Fund State-Related Colleges and Universities

Arthur Steinberg, President of AFT Pennsylvania, issued the following statement on behalf of the union representing more than 36,000 educators, paraprofessionals, school staff, higher education faculty, and state workers after the Pennsylvania General Assembly, specifically the House, failed to fund state-related universities Lincoln, Penn State, Pittsburgh, and Temple:

AFTPA President Arthur Steinberg Statement On Final Pennsylvania FY23-24 Budget

Arthur Steinberg, President of AFT Pennsylvania, issued the following statement on behalf of the more than 36,000 educators, paraprofessionals, school staff, higher education faculty, and state workers represented by AFT Pennsylvania after PA Governor Josh Shapiro committed to signing the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 state budget into law:

Statement on Governor Wolf’s Announcement of Charter School Reforms

Plymouth Meeting, PA, Tuesday, August 13, 2019 – Arthur Steinberg, President of AFT Pennsylvania, issued the following statement on behalf of the more than 36,000 members of the Commonwealth’s statewide affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers on Tuesday:

“We are very encouraged by Governor Wolf’s announcement today that he will back legislation to address commonsense charter school reforms in Pennsylvania, including transparency requirements, a cap on cyber charter enrollment and a moratorium on new cyber charter schools.

“If these reforms come to fruition, they will be a monumental win

Gov. Wolf announces millions in funding to fix environmental hazards in Philly schools

"Standing in the library of an Overbrook elementary school, Gov. Tom Wolf on Wednesday announced the state would spend $4.3 million to help remove lead paint from Philadelphia public schools.

Including the millions the state paid last year to complete such projects, that means Pennsylvania has allocated almost $12 million to fixing environmental hazards in the Philadelphia School District.

“No parent should have to worry about the health risk of sending their child to school, and no student should be at risk from lead paint,” said Wolf, who was flanked by city and state lawmakers.

The governor