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HARRISBURG, PA (Nov. 2, 2023) – Aaron Chapin, president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA), issued the following statement supporting members of the Portland Association of Teachers as they begin a strike to secure the pay, benefits, and working conditions they deserve.

“For far too long, educators across the nation have been overworked and underpaid,” Chapin said. “PSEA members stand with the teachers in Portland as they stand up for the pay, working conditions, and respect they deserve.

"It’s no surprise that educators across the nation are leaving the profession at alarming rates. People know that teaching has gotten so much harder over the past few years, and they know that teachers just don’t get paid enough for the important work that they do. So many parents and community members support increasing pay for educators and support staff. Now it’s time for policymakers to get on board.

“We have the same challenges in Pennsylvania that our colleagues have in Portland, and PSEA is working as hard as we can to increase pay for educators and support staff and improve working conditions in our public schools. We absolutely must do this so that our members have what they need to teach and serve students and so that we can attract more talented, caring adults to the education profession.

“This is what unions are for: to stand up, speak out, and advocate for their members. PSEA stands in solidarity with the Portland Association of Teachers, and we commend them for fighting to get what they deserve.”

Chapin is a Stroudsburg Area middle school teacher and president of PSEA. An affiliate of the National Education Association, PSEA represents about 177,000 active and retired educators and school employees, student teachers, higher education staff, and health care workers in Pennsylvania.