News

AFTPA endorses Pam Iovino for PA Senate

AFT Pennsylvania has endorsed U.S. Navy Captain (Ret.) Pam Iovino for the PA Senate District 37 seat formerly held by Republican Guy Reschenthaler. Iovino is running in a special election called after Reschenthaler was elected to the U.S. Congress.

FOSCEP Newsletter

Please click on the link to read a copy of the latest FOSCEP newsletter!

PA Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati dropped his challenge to and seated Sen. Lindsey Williams as the elected senator of the north Pittsburgh suburban 38th District. Williams was one of three AFTPA members elected to the state legislature.

New Foundations Charter School ratifies first union contract

Teachers and support staff at New Foundations Charter School in Philadelphia ratified their first union contract unanimously after 11 months of negotiations. The faculty and staff voted to join the Alliance of Charter School Employees, Local 6056 of the American Federation of Teachers, AFT Pennsylvania, in 2017.

Post-Janus bill would discourage workers from joining unions

The Janus decision is behind us, but some PA lawmakers want laws on the books weakening unions. House Bill 2571 would require employers to notify workers every two weeks that they can drop their union membership.

Senate redistricting bill amended ahead of final chamber vote

Lobbyists were banned, diversity reinforced and a three-year registration minimum added to the Senate’s prime redistricting bill Monday as it was prepared for a final vote by lawmakers.

FOSCEP Instrumental in Securing Parking for PDE Employees

<p>The concern over parking for employees of the Department of Education has been bothersome, however, no formal communications between the union and PDE has ever occurred. On March 3, 2017 the first meeting took place between John Kashatus and Director of HR Diana Hershey to discuss parking concerns at the Department of Education. The union sited Chapter 71 Commonwealth Parking Facilities particularly section 71.4 (1) and (3). The efforts of the union were unsuccessful and it appeared that PDE would continue to implement parking on a quasi-seniority basis.Fast forward to March 10, 2018 where</p>

AFT Pennsylvania President Ted Kirsch congratulated three AFT members who won their Primary Elections on Tuesday and pledged to work to elect pro-education, pro-worker candidates in November.

Governor Tom Wolf gave his fourth budget address today before the PA General Assembly and called on legislators to work together to increase PA's investment in education and programs that ensure that Pennsylvanians have "21st Century skills." His 2018-18 budget would invest an additional $225 million in education and make significant investments in workforce development.

WE WON! PA Supreme Court throws out gerrymandered voters' map

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court threw out the Congressional District maps approved by the Republican-controlled legislature in 2011, ruling on Monday (Jan. 22) that the voting districts were gerrymandered to give GOP lawmakers an electoral advantage. "The court's decision is a huge victory that protects voters from being marginalized by a dominant political party. AFTPA is proud to have played a role in protecting the rights of thousands of Pennsylvania voters." AFTPA President Ted Kirsch said.