Staff members at Urban Pathways K-5 Charter School on Wednesday voted in favor of unionizing, according to the American Federation of Teachers of Pennsylvania.

Staff at the Downtown school will organize under the AFT’s Alliance of Charter School Employees after the 15-7 vote of unchallenged ballots.

The school administration challenged eight additional ballots, which, according to the union, are all expected to be in favor of organizing. 

Final election results will be certified in the coming weeks, the union said.

Linda Williams, a yoga teacher and member of the organizing committee, said she has seen many changes in leadership and administrative staff in her 12 years at the school, and she hopes that unionizing helps to make the institution more stable.    

“We have gone through countless principals and administrative changes, but the one thing that hasn’t changed is the educators’ commitment to our students and their communities,” Ms. Williams said. “Forming a union is huge step toward creating stability for students and transparency for all in the Urban Pathways K-5 community.”

A representative for Urban Pathways K-5 could not be reached Wednesday night.

First Published: April 21, 2022, 12:56 a.m.