Erie Education Association

Please show some support to our union brothers and sisters striking at Wabtec. We are hoping to make a donation from our local.
High need items include water, Gatorade, fresh fruit, hot dogs, canned goods.
You can make donations at either of these locations.
UE Local 506 Hall
3923 Main Street
Lawrence Park, PA 16511
Or
EEA Office
1062 Brown Ave
Erie, PA 16502
Drop off days and times at EEA:
7/23 - 10:00am till noon
7/24 - 11:00am till 1:00pm
7/28 - 11:00am till 2:00pm
8/7 - 3:00 till 5:00pm
You can also log onto their website below and make a donation:

Support UE Members Striking for Green Jobs The 1400 members of UE Locals 506 and 618 who build locomotives for Wabtec in Erie, PA are striking for green jobs. The two locals are working hard to bring new work into the plant and new jobs to Erie through the Green Locomotive Project. The company has refused to work with the union, either throu...

Ms. Beard was a wonderful and caring teacher and EEA member. Come out to Beach 9 tomorrow for a beach clean up in her memory.

Striking union workers at Wabtec show us the way to a better future for all The workers striking for green jobs are showing us a way out. We can combat climate change by creating good jobs and taking control of production.

Statement from Governor Shapiro on Budget Negotiations Harrisburg, PA — This afternoon, Governor Josh Shapiro released the following statement ongoing budget negotiations: “Pennsylvania is the only state in the nation with a full-time, divided legislature — meaning nothing gets done unless it can make it through our Republican-led Senate and our D...

No Suspect in Custody After One Person Shot at Erie High School; Erie Education Association Releases Statement Police were called to Erie High School for a shooting victim Tuesday morning.

"McKinley Elementary’s first walking school bus started in February 2021 with only four students enrolled, but by the end of the school year, there were 30 students enrolled, according to Jaruszewicz. Of the 30 students enrolled, 26 increased their attendance, and the average number of students attending McKinley regularly jumped to 86 percent by the end of the school year in 2021, besting the state average.

Other Erie schools involved in the community schools pilot had similar success with raising student attendance rates. Strong Vincent Middle School saw chronic absenteeism decrease by 20 percent, according to Jaruszewicz. Edison Elementary School saw chronic absenteeism rates drop from 22 percent to 11 percent between 2017 and 2020."

How community schools are helping a hard-hit city dig out of tough times Days after the GE Transportation plant in Erie, Pennsylvania, announced a round of crippling layoffs in 2013, an employee was found hanging from a crane in “Building 20,” according to the Erie Times-News. The image of a dead worker dangling from a crane in a dying factory seemed symbolic of a ci...

The union has expressed concerns about how limited or no wage increases would affect the school district's ability to attract new and qualified teachers. The contract negotiations are also the first for the EEA since the start of the pandemic and the strains it has caused for schools nationwide.

The EEA's newly expired contract started on July 1, 2019. Under that contract, the lowest starting salary for an Erie School District teacher in 2020-21 was $42,851.

Concerns of teachers' union
The president of the EEA, Mary Theuerkauf, said the teachers need increased pay overall. Asked to comment on the increased pay for substitutes, she said in a statement to the Erie Times-News that "the hiring of subs at $200 a day is putting a bandage where a tourniquet is needed."

"It is a short term solution to long-term, systemic problems," Theuerkauf said. "We will need to build in contract incentives to sustain teachers. Better pay, lower deductibles, and good retirement incentives are what school district employees need to remain invested in a career in urban education.”

Theuerkauf also said: “While the teacher shortage has been brutal on classroom teachers, the district has not been successful in hiring enough teachers, maintenance personnel, bus drivers, classroom and personal care aides, nor in retaining new hires.

"We have a large population of students who, due to the disruptions from the COVID pandemic, have exacerbated social, emotional, and academic needs. Students need to essentially be 're-oriented' on how to be students."

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As labor shortage drags on, Erie School District hikes all sub pay; sub teacher boost is 110% Faced with big shortages of substitutes for teachers, custodians, nurses, School Board hikes hourly pay for all subs. District police also get raises.

Erie High Staff showing Solidarity in their Friday blues. One union one voice! Supporting education in Erie.

https://www.goerie.com/story/news/education/2021/05/17/collegiate-academy-announces-death-dance-teacher-carla-hughes-erie-northwest-pennsylvania/5130949001/

Collegiate Academy announces the death of well-known performing arts teacher Carla Hughes Hughes taught dance at the school for 17 years. She also was a regular performer and a member of the board for Erie Playhouse.