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 say, the working conditions of our PFT members are also the learning conditions of our students, and for at least the next three years, these conditions provided by this new CBA will provide better opportunities for advancement and support the reality of working in the classroom all while enhancing the learning environment for our students and better positioning PFT and the District for the future.”
Some of the biggest wins in this contract include:
- Five weeks of paid parental leave for all new parents, including adoptive parents – the first time the District has ever offered any paid parental leave;
- Three percent across-the-board raises for all bargaining unit members each year of the contract;
- A one-time $1,400 bonus for all members;
- Elimination of the District’s controversial “3-5-7-9” absences policy, which will allow members of the bargaining unit to use all of their sick days without discipline;
- Reducing barriers to bargaining unit members reaching the highest pay grade (known as Senior Career Teacher Salary);
- Increasing the minimum pay for the two lowest Paraprofessional pay scales;
- Increasing yearly allotments for teachers, school psychologists, and school nurses;
- Introduction of Special Education Tuition Assistance Program for teachers pursuing Special Education certification, and more.
To view highlights from the 2025-2028 Collective Bargaining Agreement, click here.
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