NEW! The PFT Collective Bargaining Team has made progress on several high-priority issues identified by you through surveys and member meetings. Overall, however, collective bargaining is moving slower than we'd like due to uncertainty around state and local education funding. We continue to urge City Council and Mayor Parker to increase local funding for Philadelphia public schools, and provide some predictability in light of the Pennsylvania General Assembly's penchant for delivering the state budget late and after the school year ends.
As members of the PFT, you can help build support for our contract demands. Download and share the "Building a Better Future for Philadelphia" contract explainer (see below) with colleagues and neighbors. Contact your members of City Council. Share why you support a strong new labor contract with us to amplify on social media.
Our allies at PA Schools Work built a tool that allows you to download fact sheets on how Governor Shapiro's budget proposal will impact every school district in the Commonwealth. Download, share, and contact your state representatives.
At a meeting with District counterparts on March 18th, the PFT Collective Bargaining Team submitted proposals for a new contract on behalf of our more than 14,000 members. Highlights include:
Elimination of the District's 3-5-7-9 personal illness leave policy
1 prep day per quarter
Extra time for special education teachers to prepare for IEPs and other documentation
Expanding the Para Pathway program to include all represented employees without a Bachelor's degree or teaching certification
Increased prep time
Paid parental leave
Stronger language on termination pay
Compensation for oversized classes
The entire set of contract proposals can be downloaded by clicking on this link. (Note that economic proposals will be submitted at a later date.)
PFT is negotiating a contract that makes sure our public schools are building a better future for Philadelphia. A growing city can only thrive with strong neighborhood public schools that are well-staffed and resourced. Download our contract explainer here.
On December 5, 2024, the PFT transmitted an Act 88 notice to the Pennsylvania Bureau of Mediation, as required by law to initiate collective bargaining sessions with the School District of Philadelphia. The PFT Bargaining Team - which consists of President Arthur Steinberg, Treasurer LeShawna Coleman, General VP Wendy G. Coleman, Secretary Cyndi Bolden, and Middle Schools VP Denise Rogers - will begin regular meetings with the District to negotiate a labor agreement on behalf of the nearly 14,000 members of the PFT.
We will be posting updates of note as they occur. Members are encouraged to sign up for email updates from the PFT as well.
Solidarity forever!