Achievements claimed by Pittsburgh Federation
of Teachers in 1985 - 50th Anniversary
(Source: UE
Box 3249; PFT 50th Anniversary Program and mimeo of
PFT Local 400 Record of Accomplishments from files of Local 400
re: 1937-1959)
|
1935 |
A.F.T. Local 400, Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers, officially
chartered on April 23. |
|
1937 |
Helped secure passage of the Sabbatical Leave Law, written and
sponsored by the Pennsylvania Federation of Teachers and of the
Teacher Tenure Act. |
|
1939 |
Secured liberalization of the Sabbatical Leave Law to permit
taking a Sabbatical in two separate semesters. Worked to secure
Maternity Leave Law. |
|
1940-46 |
Carried Melvin Case through the Supreme Court. This helped secure
state mandated minimum salary and a single salary schedule. |
|
1941-42 |
Helped prevent a cut super-maximum salary resulting in a raise
for teachers of elementary and girls vocational schools. Began
drive for better sick leave, shorter school term and leave for
death in immediate family.
First Military Leave Law based on bill sponsored by PFT. |
|
1943-45 |
Supported extra pay for extra work for coaches. This led, at
first, to release time compensation but finally, in 1955, to
a schedule of extra pay for extra work. |
|
1945 |
Prevented a move to assess teachers extra for retirement and
secured the money from the state instead. |
|
1946 |
Group Health and Accident Insurance for Local members with Educators. |
|
1947 |
First bill to provide automatic option in case of death of a
retirement fund member, eligible for retirement, written and
introduced in Assembly at the request of the Pennsylvania Federation
of Teachers. |
|
1948 |
Analysis of Board finances by dr. Rowe, of 400, showed surpluses
which led to our obtaining increases of over $800 in maximum
salary. |
|
1950 |
Professional Problems Committe establishe to help new teachers
and others with special difficulties. |
|
1951 |
Secured a ruling by the Attorney General that unused sick leave
is cumulative. |
|
1952 |
Helped secure, for teachers, periodic statements of their retirement
fund accounts. Influenced the Retirement Board to modernize its
bookkepping after the state auditor had, for years, refused to
certify the accurancy of their accounts. |
|
1953 |
First called attention to a chane in the Social security Law
which resulted in benefits to personnel not under retirement. |
|
1954-55 |
Secured group life insurance for Pittsburgh Teachers with the
School Board paying part of the premium. |
|
1956 |
Governor signed Automatic Option Bill into law in presence of
the Secretaries of the Pennsylvania Federation of Labor and the
Pennsylvania Federation of Teachers. Labor members on the Board
supported the Federation and helped secure salary increase retroactive
to September, instead of January , thus giving each teacher $160
more than the Board Committe recommended.
Pittsburgh Locals hosts to the National Convention of the American
Federation of Teachers.
Sick leave improved. |
|
1957-58 |
Cooperated with other employee groups to help secure group hospital
and medical surgical insurance.
Publicized and supported Social Security to supplement retirement
when other groups were indifferent or opposed it. |
|
1958-59 |
Cooperated with other employee groups to help secure improvements
in the group life insurance plan. |
|
1968 |
Following an eleven day strike, agreement is reached to hold
a bargaining representation election among all Pittsburgh teachers.
On May 23, The Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers is overwhelmingly
voted the bargaining agent for all Pittsburgh teachers.
Act 398 is passed after extensive lobbying by the PFT. |
|
1970 |
The Pittsburgh Federation is again voted the exclusinve bargaining
agent for all teachers in a second representatives election. |
|
1971 |
Paraprofessional employees join Professionals by choosing the
Federation as their bargaining agent.
On January 10, a contract agreement ends a one week strike and
teachers return to their classrooms. |
|
1974 |
The "PFT Building Corporation" is formed and work begins
on the permanent offices. |
|
1975 |
On May 15, one thousand teachers demonstrate at the board for
stronger discipline policies.
On July 2, bargaining begins in the most challenging negotiations
the PFT was to face since winning bargaining representation in
1968. |
|
1976 |
On January 26, after and eight week strike a collective bargaining
agreement is reached. |
|
1985 |
PFT celebrates 50 years of service to Pittsburgh's children. |
