Press | AFT Pennsylvania

AFTPA supports governor's natural gas tax proposal

AFT Pennsylvania President Ted Kirsch said Wednesday that he supports Gov. Wolf's plan to tax natural gas extraction and reinvest the proceeds in public education.

Kirsch calls on SRC to negotiate, not litigate

Ted Kirsch, AFTPA president, urged the SRC to return to the table to negotiate with the PFT following Thursday's PA Commonwealth Court ruling. Read Ted's statement.

Pension 'reforms' could be hazardous to your financial security

The Corbett administration has declared war on the teachers' and public employees' pension systems. Calling the nearly 100-year-old pension systems a "tapeworm," Gov. Corbett said pension "reform" is a top priority this year. Find out what this means for your future financial security.

Statement on PA Budget Office's Pension Report

The Corbett administration is using scare tactics, exaggerations and misinformation to convince the public that public employee pensions must be cut or eliminated to prevent state pension funds from consuming tax dollars that should go to schools, roads and other vital services. Read

Budget cuts responsible for lower 2011-12 test scores, Kirsch says

AFTPA President Ted Kirsch calls out PA Education Secretary after he blamed a statewide drop in test scores on cheating.

AFT PENNSYLVANIA LAUDS GOVERNOR SHAPIRO’S INAUGURAL BUDGET ADDRESS

Plymouth Meeting, PA– 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 following Governor Shapiro’s inaugural budget address:

“Throughout Governor Shapiro’s inaugural budget address, he made his priorities clear: he hopes to help all Pennsylvanians get ahead and stay ahead, from children in pre-K to seniors living on a fixed income. It is a forward-looking proposal with several encouraging facets.

“First, it is heartening to see that

Remarks at Solar for Schools Press Conference as prepared – Thursday, March 8, 2023

Good morning. I’m Arthur Steinberg, President of AFT Pennsylvania which represents 36,000 teachers, paraprofessionals, school staff, higher education faculty and staff, and state workers across 64 local unions.

I am proud to be here this morning with my friends from the Pennsylvania Building Trades and Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, Rob Bair and Angela Ferritto to support Representative Elizabeth Fiedler’s Solar for Schools bill. I also want to recognize additional representatives from labor, TJ Lepera from IBEW Local 98

Statement on Historic Legal Victory for Pennsylvania Students

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, February 7, 2023

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
AFT PENNSYLVANIA STATEMENT ON HISTORIC LEGAL VICTORY FOR PENNSYLVANIA STUDENTS

Plymouth Meeting, PA– Following a Commonwealth Court ruling on Tuesday that found Pennsylvania’s public school funding system unconstitutional, 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.

“Today is an historic victory for Pennsylvania’s students, families

AFT Pennsylvania Statement on TUGSA Strike

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, February 1, 2023

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

AFT PENNSYLVANIA STATEMENT ON TUGSA STRIKE

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 represented by AFT Pennsylvania.

“Temple University was founded especially to accommodate the schedules of working people in a city renowned for its blue collar identity. Today’s Temple University administration has turned its back on those Philadelphia

Arthur Steinberg

October 31, 2022 Mastriano Education Press Conference Remarks as prepared:

Good morning. I’m Arthur Steinberg, President of AFT Pennsylvania, the state federation which represents 36,000 educators, paraprofessionals, public and private sector employees in 64 locals across Pennsylvania and Delaware, including the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers.

And Happy Halloween. I’m not big on jokes, but to be talking about Doug Mastriano on Halloween is extra spooky.

First off, Doug Mastriano is a disgrace.

He lacks the character to lead our commonwealth and he would only take us