SCRANTON FEDERATION OF TEACHERS MEMBERS APPROVE CONTRACT AGREEMENT

Nov. 23, 2021

After a 12-day strike, members of the Scranton Federation of Teachers today overwhelmingly approved a six-year contract agreement lasting through the 2022-23 school year The agreement includes raises and offers some back pay and step movements for the years teachers and paraprofessionals worked without a contract.

“Strikes are the last resort but that’s what had to happen to get a contract that provides fairness and respect after going five long years without a contract,” said SFT President Rosemary Boland. “It’s fitting that SFT members approved the contract on the eve of Thanksgiving. We are truly grateful for the overwhelming support we received from parents, students and the wider Scranton community. It definitely helped spur movement that resulted in a good settlement. But we know our work for Scranton students and schools is not over yet.”

SFT members voted overwhelmingly to give final approval to the tentative agreement, which was reached between SFT Local 1147 and the Scranton School District on Nov. 19. The Scranton Board of Education plans to vote on the agreement during a special meeting on Nov. 30. 

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Nov. 19, 2021

The Scranton Federation of Teachers announced today that it has reached a tentative contract agreement with the Scranton School District.

Terms of the tentative agreement will not be announced until the SFT’s more than 800 members have reviewed and voted on it, which will be on Tuesday, Nov. 23. The union went on strike on Nov. 3. With the tentative agreement in place, schools will reopen Monday. SFT members have been working without a contract for five years.

“I am thrilled that we have reached an agreement after nearly three tough weeks at the table and on the picket lines. We worked hard to make sure that we did right by every student as well as their educators,” said SFT President Rosemary Boland. “We said throughout the strike that we can’t cut our way to recovery and leave educators and students worse off. We now have to reverse course and invest more in our schools so we can give our kids the opportunity to have a quality foundation for the rest of their lives.” 

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