PHILADELPHIA—Teachers are set to return to work in Philadelphia schools on August 18 with a potential strike after the students’ first week back at school. At the start of the summer, Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT3) members voted to authorize a strike with an overwhelming 94 percent in favor.
Last summer, PFT3 accepted a one-year contract extension, which included a 5% raise. The wages of Philadelphia teachers still pale in comparison to nearby counties.
The document Building a Better Future for Philadelphia, put out by Philadelphia Federation of Teachers president Arthur G Steinberg, explains that “veteran teachers in Philadelphia are required to have more credentials than suburban counterparts but on average earn far less. This disparity is frequently cited by teachers who gain early-career experience in the District but eventually take their talents elsewhere for financial reasons.” An improved union contract for workers could reduce turnover of teachers, which negatively impacts student outcomes.
According to the most recent collective bargaining update, “The PFT Collective Bargaining team has made progress on several high-priority issues… however, collective bargaining is moving slower than we’d like due to uncertainty around state and local education funding.” In order to push things forward, the PFT is calling on the City Council and Mayor Parker to increase local funding for Philadelphia public schools. 
Some of the main issues the PFT submitted in contract proposals include pay, understaffing, improving safety, restoring libraries, implementing paid parental leave, and removing the punitive 3-5-7 sick day policy. This policy limits teachers from taking their sick days as needed, but instead responds to “occurrences” with varying levels of discipline after 3, 5, 7, and 9 occurrences. In this case, even three singular days throughout a school year would be considered 3 occurrences.
The last time the union went on strike was in 2001. Before that, the last substantial strike was in 1981. The 1981 strike lasted 50 days and only ended after a call for a general strike from the AFL-CIO.
Rosita Johnson worked in the Philadelphia School District for over 30 years, beginning in the early 1960s. She was an organizer in the teachers’ union throughout her tenure and participated in the 6 week strike in 1972 as well as the 50-day strike in 1981.
Speaking with the People’s World about her experience striking in 1981, she recalled the effort it took to come to the picket line each morning to persuade other teachers not to SCAB. “I tried to explain that unity wins and what you’re doing is hurting everybody.” On the picket line, “It was rough because there was always a police presence,” in addition, she noted that she observed people “using race to divide people, so we had to build unity with the community.” One of the ways they supported the community was setting up tutoring places in churches to address the need for childcare for working people.
In reflection on the struggles still facing us today, Johnson reminds teachers, “It’s all about organizing! It’s all about organizing!”
PFT 3 employees are encouraged to join strike preparation meetings in August, to prepare for potential action. More information can be found here.
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