Press

January 6, 2021

PHILADELPHIA— In response to the coup attempt in Washington, D.C., PFT President Jerry Jordan issued the following statement:

“I’m disgusted and sickened by the domestic terrorism unfolding at the US Capitol. In an extraordinarily dangerous and volatile situation, a group of primarily white seditionists are attempting a coup, and this disgraceful display speaks so profoundly to how broken our society is.

December 1, 2020

This afternoon, PFT President Jerry Jordan delivered testimony before City Council in opposition to Bill 200366, which would delay changes to the 10-year tax abatement.

November 17, 2020

PHILADELPHIA— In response to the University of Pennsylvania’s announcement of a $100M pledge to remediate District facilities issues, PFT President Jerry Jordan issued the following statement:

“This is an extraordinary day for our schoolchildren and educators. Because of University of Pennsylvania’s $100 Million pledge, students and staff will be safer and healthier in their school buildings, and that’s exactly why we do the work we do each day.

November 10, 2020

In response to the School District of Philadelphia’s announcement to remain virtual, PFT President Jerry Jordan issued the following statement: “The decision to remain fully virtual for the foreseeable future will save lives. The science of COVID-19, paired with the massive ventilation and other facilities issues throughout the District, makes it clear: returning to school buildings, in any capacity, is unsafe right now."

November 4, 2020

In advance of the Trump campaign’s planned press conference in Philadelphia, PFT President Jerry Jordan issued the following statement: “The current occupant of the White House has led by lies, bullying, fear, racism, and hate. His absurd post-election approach is unsurprising yet nevertheless chilling. The fact that his campaign feels the need to bring in its top officials, who like the president himself, have zero credibility, to have a temper tantrum in the cradle of liberty, is just too on the nose. It’s what we’ve seen over the past four years."

October 22, 2020

Following the fatal shooting of Walter Wallace, Jr. at the hands of Philadelphia Police, PFT President Jerry Jordan issued the following statement: “I am heartsick, weary, and enraged. Again and again, for far too many, being Black in America has deadly consequences. The video of Walter Wallace, Jr. being shot and killed by Philadelphia police, followed by the guttural screams of his mother running to his fallen body, is too much to bear."

October 22, 2020

Today, as the School Board meets, PFT President Jerry Jordan issued the following statement on the proposed PreK-2 reopening model: “Yesterday, the PFT announced a tentative agreement and outlined the terms of our one year contract extension. While negotiating a one year extension, we simultaneously negotiated a separate Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding health and safety protocol around school building reopening."

October 14, 2020

Today, following the District’s release of its proposed reopening plan, PFT President Jerry Jordan issued the following statement: “First and foremost, any reopening plan will be contingent upon health and safety. Period. Any efforts to reopen school buildings without meeting a stringent set of safety criteria will not pass muster, and will be unacceptable. That is why our Union has taken a leading role in developing, identifying, and proposing what criteria must be met in order to reopen buildings. We issued our recommendations in July and have been negotiating with the District regarding the health and safety protocol since then.

September 2, 2020

TODAY: PFT PRES JORDAN JOINS JOIN AFT PRESIDENT WEINGARTEN, CONGRESSMAN BOYLE, MAYOR KENNEY, AFTPA PRESIDENT STEINBERG, SENATOR STREET, COUNCILMEMBERS GYM AND GREEN FOR NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION

July 1, 2020

This evening, the US House passed the Rebuild America’s Schools Act as part of a broader infrastructure bill (HR 2).

On the US House passage of the Rebuild America’s Schools Act (RASA), PFT President Jerry Jordan issued the following statement.