Press

PHILADELPHIA (August 6, 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 Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris' selection of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her vice presidential running mate:

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. 

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. 

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.

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.”