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Superintendent Watlington speaks at a PFT rally in the state Capitol for public school funding and charter reform.

PHILADELPHIA (September 25, 2025) Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT Local 3) President Arthur G. Steinberg on Thursday issued the following statement on the Board of Education's vote to extend the contract of Superintendent Dr. Tony Watlington through June 30, 2030:

"At a time of declining enrollment and political turmoil surrounding school districts across the country, Philly public schools are attracting students and enjoying deep support in their communities. This achievement is the direct result of the labor and dedication of the nearly 14,000 members of PFT Local 3 – and to the

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PFT President, Barganing Team members, staff, and Executive Team members after the ratification.

PHILADELPHIA (August 28, 2025) - Tonight, members of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT Local 3) voted to ratify the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the School District of Philadelphia. The agreement, which was announced earlier this week, will be in effect from September 1, 2025, through August 31, 2028.

“I am thrilled that we were able to secure these truly historic wins for our members, and now that the Agreement has been officially ratified, come Monday, our members will now be protected by our strongest contract yet,” said PFT President Arthur G. Steinberg. “As we

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PFT bargaining team

PHILADELPHIA (August 24, 2025) – This evening, less than one day before students return to school, the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT Local 3) and the School District of Philadelphia reached a historic tentative contract agreement. 

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PFT President Arthur Steinberg speaks at a rally for fair education funding in the Capitol.

PHILADELPHIA (June 25, 2025) – Leaders of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT), School District of Philadelphia, and Philadelphia Board of Education visited the state Capitol on Wednesday to fight for a strong budget package to address decades of systemic underfunding and to provide oversight and accountability of skyrocketing spending obligations on cyber charter schools.

PFT President Arthur G. Steinberg, Superintendent Dr. Tony B. Watlington, Sr., and Board of Education President Reginald L. Streater, Esq., met with Governor Josh Shapiro's administration and key lawmakers to press

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strike vote

PHILADELPHIA (June 17, 2025) – In a 94% to 6% vote, members of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers overwhelmingly supported a motion to authorize the PFT Executive Board to take appropriate action should the union and School District of Philadelphia fail to reach a contract agreement by August 31, 2025.

With a one-year extension of the current collective bargaining agreement set to expire on the last day of August, PFT President Arthur Steinberg called a special membership meeting on Tuesday to provide an overview of the status of contract negotiations with the District. Following

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PFT President Arthur Steinberg speaks during a Philadelphia Board of Education meeting.

PHILADELPHIA (June 12, 2025)Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) President Arthur G. Steinberg on Thursday urged the Board of Education to exercise its authority to support the School District of Philadelphia's efforts to control costs and win increases in state funding necessary to avoid a projected structural deficit in 2027. Following are President Steinberg's remarks as prepared for delivery at Thursday's Board meeting:

"My name is Arthur Steinberg, president of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, which represents 14,000 unionized educators who work in the School District of

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