AFT Massachusetts

Teachers

From districts large and small, teachers are critical to the success of our students and AFT Massachusetts is here to offer information, advice and support so that they can all do their jobs with courage and confidence.

Higher Education

As the demands on students continue to increase, our members in Higher Education continue to develop new ways of engaging and inspiring all students to achieve and succeed.

Librarians

Libraries are the heart and soul of education and information management and AFT Massachusetts offers plenty of ways to support those who make these vital venues work.

Paraprofessionals

Paraprofessionals work directly with students, offering advice and support that allows and encourages them to succeed. AFT MA is here for paras with professional support that allows and encourages them to succeed as well.

AFT to host Public Service Loan Forgiveness webinar in Spanish

In partnership with the National Education Association, the AFT is hosting a webinar in Spanish on the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. For those who want to learn about the relief available under this program—in Spanish—mark your calendars for Tuesday, Sept. 27, at 7 p.m. EDT. PSLF enables public service workers—teachers, firefighters, librarians, etc.—to have the balance of their federal higher education loans forgiven after 10 years. So far, more than 175,000 people have had more than $10 billion in loans forgiven. Register here.

Repeal WEP and GPO – Stop Penalizing Our Teachers and Public Employees

Everyone deserves a secure retirement, especially those who devoted their career to public service. The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) threatens that by substantially reducing or eliminating the EARNED social security benefits of the millions of retired teachers and public employees who contributed to Social Security through other employment. Thousands more are penalized every year as they retire from public service because their state, municipality, or school district does not participate in the Social Security system.

This unfair penalty also contributes to the current teacher and educator shortages, as it serves as a disincentive for those looking to join the ranks of teachers as a second career when they learn that the WEP-GPO penalty will jeopardize their earned Social Security benefits if they enter the classroom.

As the landscape of student debt shifts, and more and more opportunities allow borrowers to have their debt relieved, the AFT is using every avenue to ensure that the word is out. In affiliate meetings, telephone town halls, media coverage and social media, the union is spreading the news, and at a student debt clinic at AFT headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 31, AFT President Randi Weingarten vowed to reach as many people as possible with information that could save them tens—and sometimes hundreds—of thousands of dollars.