Pittsburgh teachers to strike this week if no deal reached

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh teacher’s union says its members will go on strike this week, affecting about 25,000 students.

The city Federation of Teachers announced Monday that the union will go on strike Friday. The union is required to give the district at least 48-hours’ notice ahead of a potential strike.

The union represents about 3,000 teachers, paraprofessionals and technical-clerical employees at 54 schools.

City teachers last went on strike 40 years ago.

President Nina Esposito-Visgitis says she’s hopeful the advance notice will give the district and the union time to reach an agreement.

Members want reduced class sizes and increased support for early-childhood teachers among other requests.

Five-year contracts for union members expired in June 2015.