Overview

• On June 17 the union voted 94% in favor of authorizing a strike before the existing contract expires on August 31
• The authorization gives the PFT executive board power to call a strike without setting a specific date, with negotiations resuming June 19
• Key union demands include ending the 3-5-7-9 sick-day policy, reducing class sizes and securing extra pay for oversized classes
• The district entered the last school year with 347 vacancies and has passed a $4.7 billion budget that taps $300 million in reserves to avert cuts
• A recent agreement will increase the district’s share of property tax revenue by 0.5 percentage points by 2030, potentially boosting teacher salaries