Article
- Press
AFTPA marks the passing of leader Sunny Richman
AFT Pennsylvania marks the passing today of a legendary PFT and PaFT leader, Sunny Richman. AFT Pennsylvania President Ted Kirsch was mentored by Ms. Richman and shared his thoughts on her contributions to our union.
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Article
- Locals
Temple Grad Assistants' union OKs 5th contract
In a major victory for Temple University Graduate Student Association, Local 6290 ratified its fifth contract, which includes raises of 2.7% in each of the four years of the contract, plus university-paid healthcare benefits.
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Article
- Legislation
Where we stand: AFTPA opposes ESA/Vouchers
The Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee is considering Senate Bill 2 establishing taxpayer-funded education savings accounts, which is another name for vouchers. AFT Pennsylvania opposes ESAs, vouchers, education tax credits and other gimmicks that divert taxpayer money from public schools that serve the majority of Pennsylvania's children to unaccountable private schools and service providers that serve a few students.
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Article
- Legislation
AFTPA opposes arming teachers and staff
AFT Pennsylvania opposes any legislation that would permit school and college faculty and staff to be armed while in classrooms and on campuses. "If educators had wanted careers in law enforcement, we would have enrolled in the Police Academy, instead of a School of Education," said AFTPA President Ted Kirsch. "Our job is to educate children and make their lives better." AFTPA supports commonsense programs and resources to make sure that children are safe while at school and on college campuses. Download AFTPA's position.
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Article
- Press
Labor helps elect Conor Lamb to Congressional Dist.18
AFT Pennsylvania President Ted Kirsch congratulated Conor Lamb, the apparent winner of a tight race for Congressional District 18 in Western PA.
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Article
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AFTPA President Ted Kirsch urges Republican lawmakers to work with Democrats to draw fair voting maps
U.S. Supreme Court refuses to block PA order to redraw voting maps. AFTPA President Ted Kirsch urges Republican lawmakers to work with Democrats to draw fair voting maps
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Article
- News
#PABudget2018: Governor proposes increased education investment
Governor Tom Wolf gave his fourth budget address today before the PA General Assembly and called on legislators to work together to increase PA's investment in education and programs that ensure that Pennsylvanians have "21st Century skills." His 2018-18 budget would invest an additional $225 million in education and make significant investments in workforce development.
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Article
- News
WE WON! PA Supreme Court throws out gerrymandered voters' map
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court threw out the Congressional District maps approved by the Republican-controlled legislature in 2011, ruling on Monday (Jan. 22) that the voting districts were gerrymandered to give GOP lawmakers an electoral advantage. "The court's decision is a huge victory that protects voters from being marginalized by a dominant political party. AFTPA is proud to have played a role in protecting the rights of thousands of Pennsylvania voters." AFTPA President Ted Kirsch said.
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Article
- Legislation
GOP stacks a committee to move ESA/voucher bill
The latest attempt by PA Republicans to pass an education savings account/voucher bill (Senate Bill 2) got a major boost this week when an anti-voucher senator on the Senate Education Committee left the committee and was replaced by an SB 2 sponsor. Sen. Dan Laughlin, R-Erie, who voted NO on the ESA/DeVos voucher bill in an unrecorded, tie committee vote, resigned as a member of the Senate Education Committee and is being replaced by Sen. Rich Alloway, R-Franklin, SB 2's sponsor.
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Article
- Legislation
We did it! Payroll deduction bill is defeated
Thanks to the advocacy by AFT Pennsylvania members and the entire labor movement in Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, Dec. 12, the House defeated Senate Bill 166, an anti-union bill that would have prohibited public employers from negotiating to deduct voluntary PAC contributions from public employees’ paychecks.
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Article
- Legislation
FAQ: Changes to furlough & seniority law
A new law in Pennsylvania makes significant changes to the way that teachers, school nurses, librarians and other professional education employees are laid off (furloughed), reinstated and realigned following layoffs. The Q&A provides information about the new language in the school code. Download the FAQ here.
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Article
- News
Furlough/seniority changes become law
The omnibus school code bill, Act 55 of 2017, became law on Nov. 5, 2017. Despite concerns about the furlough provisions, Governor Wolf allowed the bill to become law without his signature to ensure that state funds would be paid on time to public schools and to protect other provisions in the bill, including extending the moratorium on Keystone exams, requiring opioid abuse education and ending “lunch shaming” of students. AFTPA opposed the school code bill because it changes the way layoffs are conducted, places emphasis on a flawed evaluation system and interferes with collective bargaining rights.
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Article
- Locals
First contract OK'd for Temple adjuncts
Temple Association of University Professionals, Local 4531, members ratified a new collective bargaining agreement that includes adjunct faculty for the first time, with 97 percent of the faculty voting YES!
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Article
- News
Unions chastise US Supreme Court ruling
The Janus case is a blatantly political and well-funded plot to use the highest court in the land to further rig the economic rules against everyday working people. The billionaire CEOs and corporate interests behind this case, and the politicians who do their bidding, have teamed up to deliver yet another attack on working people by striking at the freedom to come together in strong unions. The forces behind this case know that by joining together in strong unions, working people are able to win the power and voice they need to level the economic and political playing field.
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Article
- Press
Kirsch calls PA Supreme Court ruling a win for students
AFT Pennsylvania President Ted Kirsch released the following statement about the Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision to hear the school funding equity case. In a news release, Kirsch called it a win for students, parents and the commonwealth. A Commonwealth Court had rejected the case by six school districts, parents and organizations. Read Ted's comments.
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Article
- Locals
Two higher ed unions ratify contracts
Faculty at two colleges represented by AFT Pennsylvania have ratified contracts in August. Moore College of Art and Design and Reading Area Community College both agreed to three-year contracts.
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Article
- Locals
New Foundations Charter High School teachers join AFTPA
PHILADELPHIA – Teachers and professional support staff at New Foundations Charter High School in Northeast Philadelphia voted for union representation by the Alliance of Charter School Employees, an affiliate of AFT Pennsylvania and the American Federation of Teachers.
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Article
- Press
Proposed education savings accounts are vouchers. Period.
A mid-state senator plans to push a bill authorizing education savings accounts, which are the latest iteration of school tuition vouchers. AFTPA President Ted Kirsch released a statement opposing this failed privatization strategy. “Let’s not waste time going down this road again – when 20-years of research has shown privatization schemes such as these fail to raise student achievement," Kirsch said. "All students and communities deserve good, neighborhood public schools with the resources to address children’s needs. That’s where we should focus our attention and invest our tax dollars.”
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Article
- Legislation
PA House approves charter 'reform' bill
Changes to Pennsylvania's charter reform bill are long overdue, but House Bill 97 misses the mark by a long shot. The House approved the bill, which AFT Pennsylvania opposes, and sent it to the Senate.
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