Pa. cyber school unionizes, union say it is first to do so

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Teachers at a western Pennsylvania-based cyber charter school have voted to unionize in what the union says is the first such action in the United States.

The faculty at Homestead-based PA Learners Online voted Monday to have the union represent 76 teachers at the school, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania State Education Association said today.

“It is clear these public school employees desire the same voice in their working conditions as other school employees across the commonwealth,” said James P. Testerman, president of the statewide teachers’ union. He said it was the first time that a U.S. public cyber charter school faculty has voted to unionize.

The school, which serves Pennsylvania students in kindergarten through high school, is managed by the Allegheny Intermediate Unit and is chartered by 10 school districts: Allegheny Valley, Baldwin Whitehall, Bethel Park, Chartiers Valley, Deer Lakes, Moon Area, Shaler Area, South Allegheny, West Allegheny and Woodland Hills.

A phone call seeking comment from the school was transferred to the intermediate unit, and a message left there was not immediately returned.

The Pennsylvania State Education Association, affiliated with the National Education Association, represents about 191,000 active and retired teachers and other school and health care workers.