Pittsburgh Public Schools Teachers Approve Strike Authorization

PITTSBURGH, PA - Pittsburgh Public Schools teachers have moved closer to their first work stoppage in more than 40 years by overwhelmingly authorizing their union officials to call a strike. The vote was 2,309-144 in favor of the strike authorization.

The action means union officials can strike at any time now after giving the district 48 hours notice. The union hasn’t done that and has not indicated when that might occur. The next negotiations between the union and district are scheduled for Friday.

“Our members do not take this vote lightly. It has been more than 40 years since the PFT has gone on strike,” union president Nina Esposito-Visgitis said in a statement. “We want to be in the classroom with our students. This is clearly a demonstration that our members feel strongly about the items that we are still negotiating and want a contract that is good for students and fair to educators.”

Said superintendent Anthony Hamlet in a recorded call to district families: “We will communicate with families immediately should we receive 48 hours notice of the beginning of the actual strike. Please know the district is doing all that it can to reach an agreement with the teachers’ union that benefits the students, teachers and families.”

Esposito-Visgitis said the union is seeking reduced class sizes and better conditions for the district’s early childhood educators.

Pittsburgh Public Schools has 24,000 students and about 2,000 teachers. The last district strike was an eight-week walkout during the 1975-76 school year.

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