Press

AFT leaders offer condolences to Pittsburgh synagogue attack victims, community

AFT leaders in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Washington offered their condolences in the wake of the mass shooting of 13 congregants at a Pittsburgh synagogue Saturday morning.

AFTPA President Ted Kirsch released this statement following the US Supreme Court's Janus v. AFSCME decision.

“The Supreme Court's decision makes it clear that unions are not only relevant but indispensable in protecting working people.

“Unions and their members, not the billionaires who bankrolled the Janus case, are committed to improving the lives of working families. Unions, not CEOs and the mega-rich, have fought consistently for adequate funding and equal opportunities for students in our public schools, colleges and universities. Unions, not hedge funds managers and Wall Street bankers

AFTPA marks the passing of leader Sunny Richman

AFT Pennsylvania marks the passing today of a legendary PFT and PaFT leader, Sunny Richman. AFT Pennsylvania President Ted Kirsch was mentored by Ms. Richman and shared his thoughts on her contributions to our union.

Labor helps elect Conor Lamb to Congressional Dist.18

AFT Pennsylvania President Ted Kirsch congratulated Conor Lamb, the apparent winner of a tight race for Congressional District 18 in Western PA.

AFTPA President Ted Kirsch urges Republican lawmakers to work with Democrats to draw fair voting maps

U.S. Supreme Court refuses to block PA order to redraw voting maps. AFTPA President Ted Kirsch urges Republican lawmakers to work with Democrats to draw fair voting maps

Kirsch calls PA Supreme Court ruling a win for students

AFT Pennsylvania President Ted Kirsch released the following statement about the Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision to hear the school funding equity case. In a news release, Kirsch called it a win for students, parents and the commonwealth. A Commonwealth Court had rejected the case by six school districts, parents and organizations. Read Ted's comments.

Proposed education savings accounts are vouchers. Period.

A mid-state senator plans to push a bill authorizing education savings accounts, which are the latest iteration of school tuition vouchers. AFTPA President Ted Kirsch released a statement opposing this failed privatization strategy. “Let’s not waste time going down this road again – when 20-years of research has shown privatization schemes such as these fail to raise student achievement," Kirsch said. "All students and communities deserve good, neighborhood public schools with the resources to address children’s needs. That’s where we should focus our attention and invest our tax dollars.”

AFT released a new survey of parents that shows that parents want politicians to support neighborhood public schools. Ted Kirsch released the following statement about the study.

Fuzzy pension logic - a lose-lose for retirees, workers, taxpayers

Ted Kirsch says the governor's fuzzy pension math hurts retirees, employees and taxpayers after the Keystone Research Center releases two pension White Papers showing that Gov. Corbett's proposals would dramatically reduce benefits for retirees, while increasing the cost to taxpayers significantly.

PFT PRESIDENT JERRY JORDAN on the DEADLY SHOOTING OUTSIDE OF VIRGINIA HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION CEREMONY

June 7, 2023

"What devastation. A deadly shooting at a Virginia high school graduation has torn families apart and traumatized countless individuals. I am so sorry for those whose lives were stolen, and for all impacted by this horror.

"To the entire Huguenot High School community, we send our deepest condolences.

"The ongoing scourge of gun violence across our nation is shameful, and we demand real, sustainable action to save lives."