Press

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

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

PHILADELPHIA (August 13, 2025) – With staff scheduled to return to work in five days, the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT Local 3) on Wednesday called on the School District of Philadelphia to show greater urgency toward contract negotiations so that the new school year is not disrupted by a labor strike. A one-year extension of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), ratified in 2021, expires on August 31st – less than one week after the new school year begins for students.

“The School District has had ample notice of our members’ needs throughout the one-year extension of

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

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

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

PHILADELPHIA (May 29, 2025) – Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) President Arthur G. Steinberg on Thursday issued the following statement on the Philadelphia Board of Education’s vote to approve a new charter school, following a 7-year unofficial moratorium on charter expansion in Philly:

“I am outraged by the Board of Education’s irresponsible decision today to approve a new charter school. At a time when the School District of Philadelphia continues to beg for adequate funding, as well as badly overdue state legislative reforms for cyber and charter schools, today’s vote was a betrayal

PHILADELPHIA (May 7, 2025) – Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) President Arthur G. Steinberg on Wednesday issued the following statement on a violent incident outside of Overbrook High School during which a Philadelphia Police officer was shot and hospitalized:

“We are horrified by the violence that occurred outside of Overbrook High School today. Our thoughts are with the Philadelphia Police officer who was shot; may their recovery be swift and complete. As educators, the physical violence among young people that the officer was attempting to quell was devastating to witness.

“At this

PHILADELPHIA (March 4, 2025) – Members of the 1.8 million-strong American Federation of Teachers in communities stretching from Philadelphia to Allegheny counties took part in a national day of action to inform and activate members of the public about looming federal education cuts that would hurt Pennsylvania students. Nearly 90% of K-12 students in Pennsylvania are enrolled in public schools, many of which benefit from funding and programmatic support from the U.S. Department of Education.

In the face of illegal cuts to U.S. Department of Education programs and funding and a stated promise to