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 introduction of a motion to give the Executive Board authority to call a strike when they deem it appropriate, members voted strongly in favor.
“While the PFT Collective Bargaining Team has made progress toward an agreement that demonstrably improves members’ working conditions – and thereby bolsters students’ learning conditions – the District has been slower to meet us halfway on key demands by our members,” President Steinberg said. “Amid a district-wide staff shortage that left teachers, counselors, classroom assistants, and so many other education professionals juggling duties beyond their own job descriptions, the District must make changes that both slow attrition of burned-out employees and attract teachers and specialists to Philadelphia public schools.”
Tuesday's vote was the first such action taken by the PFT since prior to the state takeover of the District, in the form of the SRC, in 2001. The SRC was dissolved in 2017, during the first term of pro-public education Mayor Jim Kenney.
“The 14,000 members of the PFT are unified in our fight for a strong contract that rewards their training and hard work, and improves students’ learning conditions in every public school in the City of Philadelphia. We’re committed to winning a contract that respects public school educators, and gives families peace of mind that the next school year will begin on time and seamlessly, just as Philly school students deserve,” President Steinberg concluded.
The 2025-2026 school year begins on August 18th for staff including PFT members, and on August 25th for students. The PFT contract explainer can be downloaded here.
