Press

PFT, AFTPA on AFT Endorsement of Kamala Harris for President

AFTPA and PFT delegates at the 2024 AFT Convention in Houston.

HOUSTON (July 22, 2024) – Following is a statement from Arthur Steinberg, president of the American Federation of Teachers Pennsylvania (AFTPA) and the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT), on the endorsement by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) of Kamala Harris for President of the United States:

“Delegates to the 2024 AFT convention in Houston, Texas, today overwhelmingly voted to endorse Kamala Harris for President of the United States. I proudly joined that vote with AFTPA and PFT delegates in favor of this historic nomination. A former prosecutor and U.S. Senator, Vice President Harris would be the first Black and AAPI woman to serve as the Democratic Party nominee.

President Biden with former PFT President Jerry Jordan, PFT and AFTPA President Arthur Steinberg, and AFT President Randi Weingarten.

HOUSTON (July 22, 2024) – Following is a statement from Arthur Steinberg, president of the American Federation of Teachers Pennsylvania (AFTPA) and the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT), on President Biden’s decision to not seek re-election:

“President Joe Biden is the most dedicated and impactful champion of workers to have ever occupied the White House. Historians will mark all that President Biden did to protect low-income and middle-class Americans during a global pandemic, and to strengthen and grow their economic trajectories.

Philly students rally for fair education funding.

Following is a statement from Philadelphia Federation of Teachers President Arthur Steinberg on the approval late Thursday night of the FY 2024-2025 state budget:

“While the final budget package falls short of transformational reform of Pennsylvania’s unconstitutional and inequitable system of funding public education, we are relieved to see a strong one-year increase for the School District of Philadelphia. Real progress has been made in Harrisburg since the prior decade’s perpetual disinvestment of low-wealth districts which forced towns and counties to continuously raise property taxes and fees to fill funding gaps.

June 13, 2024

PHILADELPHIA--As the school year comes to a close and PFT President Jerry T. Jordan prepares for his June 30 retirement, he shared his final weekly newsletter with PFT members.

In the e-news, President Jordan reflected on his career and said, "To be able to wake up each day and fight this righteous fight is a blessing."

Jordan also shared with members that an "unwavering belief that a better tomorrow is possible, and that the only way to get there is together" underscores the work he does each day.

June 10, 2024

Following a coalition lobby day and the PA House's passage of an historic funding bill for public education, PFT President Jerry T. Jordan released the following statement:

PHILADELPHIA-- "Once again, PA House Democrats have delivered. Their passage of the historic funding bill that would enact a multi-year plan to truly meet this moment is monumental. I commend the House Democratic leadership for their thoughtful and comprehensive approach to implementing a multi-year plan to meet this moment. Speaker Joanna McClinton has been a relentless advocate for public education, and

PFT PRESIDENT JERRY T. JORDAN ON SHOOTING THAT INJURED THREE, INCLUDING DISTRICT STUDENT, TEACHER

May 23, 2024

Following a triple shooting this afternoon that injured three, including an 8-year-old student and a teacher, PFT President Jerry T. Jordan issued the following statement:

PHILADELPHIA-- "I am horrified by another act of senseless gun violence in our city, this time a triple shooting that left three individuals wounded--including an 8-year-old student at Elkin Elementary and a beloved teacher at Conwell Middle School.

"Our students, staff, and families need and deserve to feel safe--but today, a random shooting shortly after schools dismissed once again showed that so much

PFT PRESIDENT JERRY T. JORDAN ON PASSING OF FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND CHAIR OF HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE JIM ROEBUCK

May 16, 2024

PFT President Jerry T. Jordan issued the following statement on the passing of former State Representative Jim Roebuck:

PHILADELPHIA-- "Representative Jim Roebuck was a good man with a deep and unfailing commitment to public education, to his constituents, and to the city and commonwealth at large. I am saddened by the loss of a friend and a champion for so many of the issues we fight for every day.

Representative Jim Roebuck and PFT President Jerry T. Jordan, March 29, 2014

"For years, Representative Jim Roebuck was a mainstay in the fight for full and fair

May 8, 2024

Following the murder of Ondria Glaze, a special education teacher and SPECM at Olney High School, PFT President Jerry T. Jordan issued the following statement:

PHILADELPHIA-- "I am deeply saddened by the murder of Ondria Glaze, a special education teacher and SPECM (Special Education Compliance Monitor) at Olney High School. On behalf of all of our members, we mourn for Ms. Glaze, for her family, for the Olney High School community, and for all who knew and loved her.

"There are no words that could possibly capture this level of loss, and our deep condolences

Coalition of Labor, Faith Groups, and Education Advocates Urge House Leadership to Act on Court Public Education Funding Ruling

Philadelphia Federation of Teachers President Jerry T. Jordan emphasized, "The time is now to once and for all address the decades-long underfunding of our schools. Our students need, deserve, and are constitutionally and morally entitled to a thorough and efficient system of public education. With the funding case now decided with finality, and the Basic Education Funding Commission having completed its review, the legislature must enact a multi-year plan this year that meets the moment.”

April 29, 2024

Following Mayor Cherelle L. Parker's subsequent appointment of Joyce Wilkerson to fill the vacant School Board position, PFT President Jerry T. Jordan issued the following statement:

PHILADELPHIA-- "Right is right. And Mayor Cherelle L. Parker was right to nominate Joyce Wilkerson to the first School Board under the Parker administration. Mayor Parker was right to continue to push for Joyce Wilkerson's reappointment, despite tremendous headwinds.

"And Mayor Parker was absolutely right in appointing Joyce Wilkerson to fill the vacant position

PFT, AFTPA on AFT Endorsement of Kamala Harris for President

PFT, AFTPA President Arthur Steinberg Statement Thanking President Biden

PFT President Arthur Steinberg on Philly Schools Funding in PA Budget

PFT PRESIDENT JERRY T. JORDAN ISSUES FINAL NEWSLETTER TO MEMBERS BEFORE JUNE 30 RETIREMENT

PFT PRESIDENT JERRY T. JORDAN ON PA HOUSE PASSAGE OF HISTORIC FUNDING BILL

PFT PRESIDENT JERRY T. JORDAN ON SHOOTING THAT INJURED THREE, INCLUDING DISTRICT STUDENT, TEACHER

PFT PRESIDENT JERRY T. JORDAN ON PASSING OF FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND CHAIR OF HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE JIM ROEBUCK

PFT PRESIDENT JERRY T. JORDAN ON MURDER OF OLNEY HS TEACHER ONDRIA GLAZE

Coalition of Labor, Faith Groups, and Education Advocates Urge House Leadership to Act on Court Public Education Funding Ruling

PFT PRESIDENT JERRY T. JORDAN ON MAYOR CHERELLE L. PARKER'S APPOINTMENT OF JOYCE WILKERSON TO THE SCHOOL BOARD