Press | Upper St. Clair Education Association (4270)

Kirsch applauds Gov. Wolf's budget

AFTPA President Ted Kirsch applauded the vision and funding in the Governor's 2019-2020 budget proposal.

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.

AFT President Randi Weingarten on President Trump’s Comments About Arming Teachers

WASHINGTON—Statement of AFT President Randi Weingarten on President Trump’s proposals to arm teachers:

“I spoke to 60,000 educators last night in a telephone town hall. The response was universal, even from educators who are gun owners: Teachers don’t want to be armed, we want to teach. We don’t want to be, and would never have the expertise needed to be, sharp shooters; no amount of training can prepare an armed teacher to go up against an AR-15.

“One would have thought, after the president’s listening session, that he wouldn’t have put the agenda of gun manufacturers and the National Rifle

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.”

3 Strikes Against Corbett-Tobash Pension Plan

AFT PA President Ted Kirsch says the Corbett-Tobash pension plan has three strikes against it. It won't save money. It won't pay down the pension debt. And, even worse, it decimates teachers' and public workers' retirement security. Read Ted's statement and the Keystone Research Center critique.