Press | AFT Pennsylvania

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

Kirsch applauds Gov. Wolf's budget

AFTPA President Ted Kirsch applauded the vision and funding in the Governor's 2019-2020 budget proposal.

AFTPA mourns the passing of PSEA President Dolores McCracken

AFTPA President Ted Kirsch released the following statement following the death of a colleague, friend and union counterpart Dolores McCracken, who was president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association.

AFT leaders offer condolences to Pittsburgh synagogue attack victims, community

AFT leaders in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Washington offered their condolences in the wake of the mass shooting of 13 congregants at a Pittsburgh synagogue Saturday morning.

Ted Kirsch statement on K2 exposure

AFTPA President Ted Kirsch released the following statement after a member working in a state correctional facility library was exposed to the substance know as K2.

AFTPA President Ted Kirsch released this statement following the US Supreme Court's Janus v. AFSCME decision.

“The Supreme Court's decision makes it clear that unions are not only relevant but indispensable in protecting working people.

“Unions and their members, not the billionaires who bankrolled the Janus case, are committed to improving the lives of working families. Unions, not CEOs and the mega-rich, have fought consistently for adequate funding and equal opportunities for students in our public schools, colleges and universities. Unions, not hedge funds managers and Wall Street bankers