HARRISBURG - AFT Pennsylvania held its biennial convention this summer, during which delegates from across the state networked, attended workshops and set the organization’s agenda.
“We had an extremely productive convention and a really interesting selection of programs and workshops,” said AFTPA President Ted Kirsch. “Delegates debated topics ranging from education funding to teacher evaluation to political gerrymandering. Many attended workshops designed to enhance local union effectiveness and delegates had an opportunity to hear from Pennsylvania political and educational leaders, including Governor Wolf and U.S. Senator Casey.”
Delegates voted unanimously to engage AFTPA locals in participating in efforts to reelect Tom Wolf to a second term as governor and Robert P. Casey to a third term as Pennsylvania's U.S. senator. (Resolution)
Delegates voted unanimously to pass resolutions to:
- Acknowledge and end violence against public school educators
- Work across PA to end gerrymandering of voting districts and
- Build a statewide movement with the Alliance for Public Schools to improve public education.
- Support increased State Funding for Early Childhood
- Develop new state revenues to support adequate investment in education
- Repeal PA’s Act 82 educator evaluation law
- Support Community Schools
- Expand career and technical education courses
- Improve testing for and remediation of lead found in school and daycare drinking water
- Support paraprofessional educators
- Dues increase to support legal Defense Fund assistance program
The convention theme was Focus on PA: Creating Positive Change in the Commonwealth, and workshops reflected AFTPA's goal of helping unions engage members to influence policies and legislation that promote a positive environment for education and for working Pennsylvanians.