AFT Massachusetts | AFT Stateweb

PreK-12 Teachers

More than 1 million members strong, the AFT's Public Education unit has become a major force for preserving and strengthening a national commitment to reclaiming the promise of American education. It all began more than 100 years ago: A group of Chicago teachers, reasoning that theirs was a noble profession, organized themselves to share resources and build respect for the invaluable work they were doing. Those early efforts led to the birth of a national teachers union in 1916 that has been in the vanguard of every major advancement in American public education ever since.

Higher Education

The AFT represents higher education faculty (including both full- and part-time), professional staff and graduate employees, in all sectors of higher education—public and private, two-year and four-year institutions of higher education. The AFT Higher Education division's mission is to help our affiliates and their members prosper in the face of political, economic and technological forces challenging the most basic assumptions about the union's role on campus.

Public Employees

As a union of professionals, AFT Public Employees division is committed to improving the quality of government services we provide to our communities. Reclaiming the promise of high-quality public services is about fighting for first-rate public services that our support communities and keep them safe, healthy and vibrant. It’s about fighting to ensure that our communities’ tax dollars are properly invested back into the community, and that those resources are used responsibly and safely. Finally, it’s fighting to make sure public employees are well-prepared and supported so they can provide our communities with the high-quality services the public needs and deserves.

Paraprofessionals & School-Related Personnel

The AFT has organized paraprofessionals and school-related personnel since the early 1930s, when the first PSRP affiliate, the Education Secretaries of Chicago, was founded. Today, the AFT PSRP division sets a foundation for high-quality education by supporting meaningful professional development, promoting health and safety in the workplace, and demonstrating the importance of a strong and just work ethic in a bully-free environment. Most important is its commitment to safe and welcoming schools and colleges for students who deserve high-quality food programs; reliable school buses; clean, secure buildings; efficiently run offices; and well-trained staff.

AFT Massachusetts Responds To House Literacy Education Bill

“Teaching students to read is one of the most important things we do as educators. Literacy skills are foundational skills - ones that are crucial to supporting student development and long-term success.

“The needs of our students vary from district to district, from school to school, even from desk to desk. Strong literacy instruction is responsive to the unique learning needs of individual students and can be complex.

“As passed today, this bill establishes a limited, blanket curriculum that is concerning, particularly to veteran educators who have developed rich and effective evidence based literacy curriculum over the years. Even more concerning is that it bans important, proven tools our educators currently use and use successfully, particularly with our English language learners and students with special needs."

AFT Massachusetts Applauds Legislature For Standing Up For Public School Students

“We thank the Legislature for preventing what could have been catastrophic cuts to our public schools as they face immense financial insecurity after losing hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding,” said AFT Massachusetts President Jessica Tang. “The cost for many local school districts to ensure every child has a free and equal public education outpaces the investment and reimbursements they receive from the state, particularly as the federal government continues to decrease its contributions. Coupled with a funding system that does not keep up with inflation, the money lost to charter schools is pushing many districts to a breaking point, especially those disproportionately serving the Commonwealth’s neediest students.”

“We remain committed to working with our allies in the Legislature and the Healey Administration to ensure all students have access to a high-quality public education and the services they need to thrive. With public education under assault at the federal level, it is even more critical that our state leaders answer this call so that Massachusetts can continue to lead,” continued Tang.

Join leaders, building representatives and rank-and-file members from across AFT Massachusetts for the AFT Massachusetts Fall Conference! You will gain new tools and resources to help engage your members, continue to strengthen your local to meet the moment and fight for our students, our members and our communities. There will be workshop offerings on growing membership density, role of building reps, safe school communities for immigrants, how to create a rapid response and mobilization structure, and more!

Who: AFT leaders and activists
When: Saturday, November 22, 2025 - 8:30 am to 3:00 pm
Where: Norfolk County Agricultural School located at 400 Main Street in Walpole, MA

Registration and breakfast will begin at 8:30 am. Lunch will be provided. The conference will end by 3:00 pm, followed by cider and donuts from 3:00 - 4:00 pm. Register today!