Philadelphia Federation of Teachers

Report Urges End To Automatic Teacher Tenure In Philadelphia Public Schools

The report by the National Council on Teacher Quality comes at a time when the district is negotiating a new contract with the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers.

5 hours ago

Philadelphia Teachers, School Officials At Odds Over How To Close Budget Gap

Superintendent William Hite’s budget relies on labor concessions — including teacher pay cuts from 5 to 13 percent, and an end to teacher seniority.

2013/05/17

(Proponents of a moratorium for school closures listen as Quanisha Smith of Action United speaks outside City Hall. Credit: John Ostapkovich)

Nutter Says He Won’t Back a Delay in Philadelphia School Closure Plan

A coalition of groups is asking Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter to pressure the School Reform Commission to put a one-year moratorium on the plan to close dozens of schools.

2013/03/04

School District Proposal Asks Teachers To Work More Hours For Less Money

In its opening contract proposal, the Philadelphia School District wants teachers’ work days extended from seven to eight hours with teachers at the top of the pay scale taking a 13-percent salary cut.

2013/02/28

(Philadelphia schools superintendent Dr. William Hite told a City Council hearing on Monday that the pay increases for certain district employees were not raises but rather salary adjustments for additional duties. Photo from City of Phila. TV)

Philadelphia Schools Boss Defends Pay Increases For 25 District Employees

Superintendent William Hite defended the salary increases, saying they coincided with additional responsibilities for employees in the district’s IT, finance, and human resources departments.

2012/11/26

Local Officials Discuss Education And The Role Of Teachers

During the recent teachers strike in Chicago and throughout the nation, there is a continuing conversation about levels of teacher accountability.

2012/10/07

(National Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten, far right, tours the Andrew Jackson School in South Philadelphia, accompanied by, from left, school principal Lisa Kaplan, Philadelphia schools superintendent William Hite, and Philadelphia Federation of Teachers president Jerry Jordan. Credit: Pat Loeb)

Teachers’ Union National Leader Visits Philadelphia

Philadelphia’s teachers’ union got some national help to make their argument that schools can improve without the wholesale closings and charter takeovers that have been proposed.

2012/10/01

Philadelphia School District Laying Off Hundreds More

Pink slips are going out later this week for 270+ non-teaching personnel.

2012/06/06

Group Vows To Fight Philadelphia’s Plan For Public Schools

On the second day of City Council School budget hearings, a new coalition met outside city Council chambers, vowing to fight the School Reform Commission’s “blueprint” to transform the city’s public schools.

2012/05/09

(Opponents of the Philadelphia school district's "Renaissance" outsourcing program protest outside school district headquarters last Thursday. Credit: Mike DeNardo)

Philadelphia Teachers, Parents Protest Plan To Convert Failing Schools To Charters

They were protesting the plan to turn the Creighton, HR Edmunds, and Cleveland elementary schools and the Jones Middle School over to charter providers under the district’s “Renaissance” program, which turns failing schools over to outside operators.

2012/04/01

Philadelphia Teachers’ Union Charges School District Mishandling Student Medications

The Philadelphia teachers’ union has filed a complaint with the state, saying the school district is now using non-medical personnel to give medications to students.

2012/02/01

Philadelphia Federation of Teachers president Jerry Jordan announces contract extension at Temple University (credit: Cherri Gregg)

Philadelphia Teachers Vote To Extend Contract Through August 2013

“We’re not giving to the district, we are really giving to the children of Philadelphia because we do care about what happens in schools and what happens to the kids,” Federation president Jerry Jordan says.

2011/10/14

Thousands Attend Labor Day Celebrations, Local Leaders Cite Need For Unions

Philadelphia’s annual Labor Day parade and picnic drew a large and mixed crowd — celebrating the movement that gave the holiday its name.

2011/09/05

(PFT president Jerry Jordan, in file photo. Credit: Mike DeNardo)

With Ackerman’s Departure, Sighs Of Relief From Many Quarters

PFT president Jerry Jordan admits he won’t miss her.

2011/08/22

Philadelphia School District Backs Off Special Treatment For ‘Promise Academy’ Teachers

It’s a win for the teachers’ union, who said all along that their contract called for layoffs by seniority and that no group of teachers should be bypassed.

2011/08/16